Michael Morse, Franklin Gutierrez Homer, Mariners Lose 6-2

After a lead off homerun from Franklin Gutierrez and another first-inning homerun from Michael Morse, Mariners pitcher, Joe Saunders, struggled with his command and the Mariners (2-1) lost their first game of the early season.

"I wanted to see if the offense was for real or not," Saunders said. "It's been too easy with the games Mr. McFeeley [Felix Hernandez] and Ewok [Hisashi Iwakuma] pitched to open the season."

Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma. (Credit: Andres Rueda)

Saunders pitched four innings, finding Athletics bats seven times for hits, missing them four times for walks, and struck out three while giving up four runs. Two of the walks helped set up a no-outs bases-loaded jam in the third.

"Did you see the stadium?" Saunders said. "No one was there. I was trying to raise ticket sales."

Saunders escaped allowing just one run, which tied the game at two, and cursed at himself stepping off the field.

Oakland claimed the lead, their first of the season, on a two-out, two-run double by Jed Lowrie. Lowrie was greedy and added a solo blast in the seventh.

Mariners Manager, Eric Wedge, said the game was "typical of what he saw last season" and expects the Mariners to "rebound sometime around August."

Tidbit of the Day

Seattle Mariners outfielder Michael Morse is still on pace for 162 homeruns this season.

Yahoo! Sports Box Score

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While some information in the article is factual, the article itself is meant for entertainment. All quotes are fictitious.