Vargas Shuts Down Rays

June 3, 2011

A: Seattle Mariners

Attendance: 24,492

W: Jason Vargas (4-3) 3.96 ERA

L: Andy Sonnanstine (0-2) 5.68 ERA

Summary:

Andy Sonnanstine had nothing last night. In most of his other starts, he at least keeps the Rays in the game, but tonight…well, when he wasn’t allowing homers, he was walking Seattle hitters. In the first, he allowed a homer to Justin Smoak. In the third, his command totally deserted him. What followed was a hit by pitch, a walk, a sac bunt that the defense could not convert into an out, and another walk to force in a run. Jack Cust followed with a hard ground ball to Felipe Lopez would bobbled the ball and was only able to get one out. Another hard ground ball that Evan Longoria couldn’t handle produced the third run of the inning.

The Mariners score another trio of runs in the fifth thanks to homers by Adam Kennedy and Miguel Olivo. That was it for Sonnanstine who left trailing 7-0.

Jason Vargas completed the 7-0 win by limiting the Rays offense to four hits.

The Rays are in a tough stretch right now. Not only aren’t they getting the pitching, but the defense has been disappointing as well. Casey Kotchman will hopefully be back today if for nothing else but to provide the shutdown defense at first.

Player of the Game: Jason Vargas