Mariners Classics: Record-setting 2001 M’s face elimination in ALDS Game 4

With baseball season delayed for the foreseeable future, 710 ESPN Seattle is broadcasting classic Mariners games throughout the spring. At 7 p.m. tonight we continue the 2001 American League Division Series with the top-seeded Mariners taking on the Cleveland Indians. Here’s Shannon Drayer’s preview of the airing of Game 4.

ALDS Game 4: Oct. 14, 2001

Coming off the 17-2 disaster of a loss on the previous day, the Mariners found themselves down 2-1 to the Indians. While Game 2 felt like a must-win to Lou Piniella, Game 4 indeed was a must-win, this time on unfriendly turf.

With the Mariners on the brink of what one publication said could be the greatest postseason upset, the Mariners had the benefit of the 2001 AL ERA leader on the hill, Freddy Garcia. The guy on the other side, Bartolo Colon, had completely shut down the Mariners five days earlier, pitching eight innings of 10-strikeout, shutout ball against them.

The offense to date in the postseason had disappointed with the Mariners scoring just seven runs total in the first 3 games. Bret Boone, their WAR leader that season, a miserable 1 for 12 with seven strikeouts. While the offense struggled in Game 3, what was more alarming was the team was not sharp in general. A game with three errors and a myriad of miscues was completely out of character for this group. The good news, perhaps, is many believed it was highly unlikely they could play lackluster baseball two days in a row.

LINEUPS!

Mariners

Ichiro, 9
Mark McLemore, SS
Edgar Martinez, DH
Bret Boone, 2B
John Olerud, 1B
Stan Javier, LF
Mike Cameron, CF
Dan Wilson, C
David Bell, 3B

Freddy Garcia, P

Indians

Kenny Lofton, CF
Omar Vizquel, SS
Roberto Alomar, 2B
Juan Gonzalez, RF
Jim Thome, 1B
Ellis Burks, DH
Travis Fryman, 3B
Marty Cordova, LF
Einar Diaz, C

Bartolo Colon, P

He said it

“Maybe we tired them out tonight and they won’t come out and swing the bats tomorrow,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said following Seattle’ 17-2 Game 3 loss.

Follow 710 ESPN Seattle’s Shannon Drayer on Twitter.

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