18 July 2007

Who’s hot on the Mariners

By Matt Rice
GateHouse News Service
Wed Jul 18, 2007, 06:38 AM EDT 

Harwich - 

Pitchers
    Brett Jacobson- The Carefree, Arizona native had his best start of the summer against Orleans on Monday night, as he kept the Cardinals in check, allowing only four hits in seven innings pitched as the Mariners won 4-1. He struck out seven and issued only one walk while not allowing a run to score. It was his second win in five starts for the six-foot, six-inch righty from Vanderbilt. He’s currently carrying a 3.94 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 15 walks.

    Ryan Kulik- Picking up his first win of the season, Kulik dropped his ERA from 3.18 to 1.42 thanks to a solid performance against Wareham where the lefty lasted seven innings and didn’t give up a run while giving up six hits and striking out three. In a little more than 12 innings pitched this season, the Marlton, New Jersey native has given up two earned runs and has struck out eight.

    Josh Zeid- Ranked fourth in the league with a 1.53 ERA, the some times starter, some times reliever did a little of both last week as he started and pitched 5.1 innings, giving up only one earned run on six hits in a 3-3 tie with Brewster on Wednesday. On Saturday, against Wareham, Zeid pitched a perfect eighth inning out of the bullpen. In nine appearances this season, the New Haven, Connecticut native has collected 26 strikeouts while only walking four. In nearly 30 innings pitched, he’s allowed only five earned runs on 25 hits. 

Batters
    Chris Dominguez- Despite having his six game hitting streak come to an end on Monday, the Mariners outfielder and occasional third baseman went 9-for-26 (.346) with five runs scored in the past seven games, raising his average from .205 to its current .254.
The Miami, Florida native is currently carrying a .397 slugging percentage and a .309 on-base average.

    Kyle Day- Currently third on the team with a .295 average and tied for second with 26 hits, Day is coming off a 4-for-5 performance on Sunday as the Mariners got the best of Hyannis, 7-5.
Day’s biggest hit came in the top of the eighth inning. With men in scoring position and Harwich clinging to a slim lead, the Mariners part-time catcher and outfielder slapped a ball into right field, scoring Terrence Dayleg. Thanks to the four-hit performance, Day has risen his average from .253 last week, to its current .295. He’s also second on the team in slugging percentage (.432), on-base average (.386), and is tied for the team lead with five stolen bases. He leads the team with 38 hits.

    Alex Avila- With his team clinging to a one run lead against Orleans on Monday night, Avila came through with a key two-run double down the right field line, putting the Mariners up for good.
On Sunday, Avila had three hits in five at-bats during the Mariners 7-5 win over Hyannis, including two doubles and an RBI.
Avila is batting .212 and is currently second in the league with nine doubles and is second on the team with 36 hits.