Tony Overman/The Olympian
Seattle starter Jamie Moyer held Cleveland to just five hits in six innings.

Tony Overman/The Olympian
Fans cheer for the Seattle Mariners during their 5-1 win over Cleveland on Thursday. With the American League Division Series tied at one game apiece, the Mariners head to Cleveland for games 3 and 4.

Moyer still mastering Cleveland batters

Seattle pitcher's savvy, control make up for lack of sheer velocity

GAIL WOOD, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published October 12

SEATTLE -- Jamie Moyer is the pitcher batters love to face. His catcher calls him "a comfortable at-bat."

His 74 mph change-up looks so ... hitable.

Yet Moyer, the pitcher without a fastball, fooled Cleveland batters again Thursday in Seattle's 5-1 victory in the first round of the American League playoffs.

Moyer never threw faster than 84 mph, yet the 38-year-old who was told to quit baseball 10 years ago continued his mastery over the long-ball hitting Indians. He gave up just one run in six innings, keeping him perfect in three games against Cleveland this season. He has allowed just two runs in 20 innings.

Jim Thome, Cleveland's first baseman who belted 49 homers this season, stuck out both times he faced Moyer's trickery. And Thome probably can't wait to step in at the plate against Moyer again.

"That's what batters feel," Mariner catcher Dan Wilson said. "They think, 'I want another crack at that guy.' That's because he's a comfortable at bat."

Moyer doesn't have the intimidating fastball. Doesn't have the Randy Johnson intimidator -- inside heat. He's only got slow and slower offerings.

While Moyer may not be a feared pitcher, at 20-6 he's the oldest pitcher to win 20 games for the first time in a career.

"That's all I have to offer," said Moyer, who missed the playoffs last season when his kneecap was broken in a practice game. "I can't reach back and throw 95. I have to use the abilities I have. My job is to go out there and throw strikes."

Moyer finished with four strikeouts, a walk and allowed five hits. He threw only 86 pitches, 55 strikes. The low pitch count leaves room for Mariner manager Lou Piniella to pitch him again Monday if Game 5 is needed.

Moyer survives with an odd assortment of off-speed pitches, catching the corners of the plate and making batters swing. He beats fastball-hitting teams and curveball-hitting teams. He does it by changing speeds and throwing strikes.

"There's different ways to kin a cat," Piniella said. "He does it the sly way. He doesn't beat himself with walks. He makes batters put the ball into play."

Moyer, who has won 13 or more games six straight years and is the second winningest pitcher in Mariner history, retired the first eight batters before catcher Einar Diaz singled with two outs in the third. After giving up back-to-back singles in the seventh, Moyer was pulled.

"He uses guile, hits both sides of the plate," Piniella said of Moyer. "Jamie had good command of his pitches."

Moyer, who was released by the Chicago Cubs in 1991 and offered a coaching job, had a league-leading 2.22 ERA in 16 starts after the All-Star break this season. He tied a team record with 10 straight wins.

"What makes Jamie tough is when he goes inside, he's not afraid to go deep inside," Wilson said. "Batters are saying, 'Throw me something harder.' But Jamie keeps up on batters. He knows their tendencies and he uses that.

"I've seen Jamie have better stretches, but this is the best I've seen him throw for an entire season. He gets better with age."

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