Rocco Baldelli was captured crying after been sack today…

After a wild opening game yesterday against the Minnesota Twins, the Mariners find themselves with a chance to take the series in tonight’s contest. The Mariners are now back up to 10 games over .500, and hold a 5.5 game lead over the second place Houston Astros. While it seemed that the Twins had control of the game for most of the game, you just can’t count out the Mariners and chaos ball.

For just the ninth time this season, the Mariners won a game without hitting a home run. They won yesterday’s game with great pitching and small ball. Three bunts, with two of them working in the Mariners’ favor, and a swinging bunt in the 10th from Cal Raleigh marked the difference. While this team can hit the long ball, they need to start scoring from playing small ball. Hitting home runs is not the most consistent way to score runs if they have designs on advancing in October.

Bryce Miller will start tonight’s game for the Mariners. Miller (6-6, 3.90 ERA) will make his 17th start of the season tonight. Bryce has been lights out in T-Mobile Park this year. In fact, his home/road splits are crazy. He has made eight starts at home, and eight starts on the road. At home, he has a record of 4-2 with a 1.82 ERA, adding 59 strikeouts with just three walks in 49.1 innings. On the road, he is 2-4 with a 6.28 ERA. He has given up 11 home runs, walked 13 and struck out just 26 in 43 innings of work. Be thankful that tonight’s game is at home.