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9 hours ago
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The Seattle Mariners had to get the bullpen usage right.
In the top of the fifth inning, Cal Raleigh's home run gave Seattle a 3-1 lead in ALCS Game 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays. George Kirby had just completed four innings as the starting pitcher, and the Mariners decided to go to the bullpen.
They started with Bryan Woo, the standout starter who just came back from injury for ALCS Game 5.
Woo pitched two scoreless frames, but in the seventh, he ran into trouble, allowing two runners to reach before Toronto turned the order over to George Springer.
The Mariners went to the bullpen rather than have Woo pitch to Springer.
And Seattle manager Dan Wilson opted to bring in Eduard Bazardo.
The move immediately backfired as Springer launched a three-run homer to take a 4-3 lead.
MORE: George Springer climbs MLB record books with epic homer
It was easy to second guess, with result far outweighing process in public opinion here.
The alternative move would've been to have closer Andres Munoz ready to bring into the game at the first sign of trouble for Woo. Seattle could've always found a way to get the last few outs if needed.
But to bring in the not-best reliever on the roster to face the immensely clutch Springer in the biggest spot of the Mariners' season? It didn't work out.
Bazardo has been good, and it's not his fault that Wilson chose to count on him.
But in this moment, Bazardo wasn't good enough. The decision didn't work. And without a rally, it'll be the move that ended the Mariners season.
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