Minnesota @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 2, 2010 ) Minnesota 1, Seattle 2
On the day Ken Griffey Jr. walked away from baseball, Seattle Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley said it should rain in the Emerald City. It did and Bradley was seen openly weeping in the dugout before Wednesday’s game.
Bradley had plenty of company as the team honored the most accomplished player in franchise history.
Reduced to a bit player as a part-time pinch-hitter, Griffey retired after 22 seasons, 630 home runs, 10 Gold Gloves and a lifetime of pranks.
Griffey was gone - on his way to his home in Florida - but images of the player forever known as “Junior” were everywhere Wednesday at Safeco Field, his home away from home.
Impromptu signs and posters popped up. The grounds crew made a “24” in the dirt as a tribute to Griffey’s jersey number. The Mariners did not replace him on their 25-man roster and went with 24 instead.
After a Hall of Fame worthy career that saw the 40-year-old Griffey often thrive in the big moments, he issued a four-paragraph statement that thanked the fans and said he did not want to be a distraction.
Griffey saw his average drop to .184 and was at the center of a controversy when he was accused of sleeping in the clubhouse during one game and unavailable to pinch hit. He denied that, but rumors swirled that this day was forthcoming.
His sweet, left-handed swing and 1,000-watt smile will be cherished by Mariners fans, but current and former teammates said it was his fun-loving, happy-go-lucky nature that they will miss most around the clubhouse.
Perhaps it was fitting the Mariners finally won for the first time this season in extra innings Wednesday, kudos to the extras Griffey brought to the franchise.
The Mariners had been the only team in the majors without a win in extra innings, going 0-6. But when normally reserved Ichiro Suzuki hit an infield single, scoring the winning run in a 2-1 victory over Minnesota, he celebrated wildly - knowing this day was not wasted for Griffey.
The Japanese star's walk-off victory was just the second for Seattle this season. The other coming from Griffey on May 20 against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was also Griffey's last run-scoring hit.
The Mariners will try to win the four-game series on Thursday when they send Felix Hernandez against Minnesota veteran Carl Pavano.
Hernandez (2-4, 3.50 ERA) has lost four consecutive decisions since his last victory April 21 against the Baltimore Orioles. He allowed one run in eight innings Saturday but got a no-decision as Seattle lost in extra innings. Hernandez is 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA in five starts at home against Minnesota.
Pavano (5-5, 3.99) won his last start, allowing two runs in seven innings against the Texas Rangers. He is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA against Seattle.
The Twins will be without outfielder Michael Cuddyer, who will leave the team on Thursday after the death of his father-in-law. He will rejoin the Twins on Tuesday in Kansas City.
Minnesota called up third baseman Danny Valencia from Triple-A Rochester.