Fifth inning a missed chance

ELLIOTT SMITH, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published October 18

SEATTLE -- An inning that began with so much promise ended with the Seattle Mariners shaking their heads at another missed opportunity.

In the fifth inning of Wednesday's Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, Seattle finally broke through against New York starter Andy Pettitte, who until that point had not allowed a hit.

Edgar Martinez led off the inning with a sharp single between first and second and Mike Cameron followed with a ringing double off the left-field wall.

Down 3-0, the Mariners had a golden chance to get back in the game with runners on second and third and no one out.

"We got things started there," Cameron said.

But Seattle managed to only score one run, and the specter of that lost opportunity seemed to haunt them the rest of the game in the 4-2 defeat.

"That was the whole game," Seattle left fielder Jay Buhner said. "We had a chance to change the whole scheme of the game."

After the two hits, John Olerud worked the count to 2-1, but a questionable check swing strike -- which had Piniella screaming out of the dugout at third base ump Charlie Relaford -- moved it to 2-2, a much better pitcher's count.

On the next pitch, Olerud tapped a grounder to the left of Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who ranged over to get Olerud.

"It was a chance to drive in some runs and get a rally going," Olerud said.

Martinez scored on the play, closing the gap to 3-1, and Cameron moved up to third, assuring that a fly ball would score the run.

But Jay Buhner was caught looking from a high curve by Pettitte, squelching the hopes of an RBI sacrifice fly.

Buhner was clearly upset with the call, as he barked to home plate umpire Ed Montague as he walked away.

"I just took it," Buhner said of the pitch. "I thought it was a ball, but obviously it wasn't. But I had two other pitches to put in play."

A two-out hit from Dan Wilson would have given the Mariners a big lift, but he too struck out, ending Seattle's lone threat against Pettitte.

"Guys like Pettitte, you have to get to them early," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "Once they settled in and get a good rhythm out there, it becomes a little more of a difficult chore."

The Mariners made a living in the regular season by getting the big hits, but in the playoffs have not lived up to their clutch reputation.

It came down to a few players Wednesday, but Bret Boone said everyone has been in that situation before.

"It's tough for anyone," he said. "Johnny had a good at-bat, he got a runner in and a runner over, but we were unable to take advantage of it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's no walk in the park to hit with those shadows either.

"So it's nobody's fault. I'm not going to point any fingers. We've all been there and we've all not gotten them in before."

On the web:

Mariners American League Championship Series Special Section (Oct. 17)

Seattle Mariners

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