The Mariners playoff woes are well documented. This year it seemed like the now, fifteen year post season drought would be broken. It wasn’t. So, M’s fans still must hold on to the memory of their last playoff series win all the way back in 2001.
It was on this day, October 15th, 2001, fifteen years ago that the Mariners won their last playoff series.
It had been a grueling first four games against the Cleveland Indians, and now it all came down to a decisive game five. The teams had traded victories during the series, but the M’s felt confident they could change that trend in game five.
They were sending the man who would become their all-time wins leader -before Felix Hernandez would steal that crown- in Jamie Moyer.
Before the playoffs even started, Moyer proved his value in 2001. He had an ERA of 3.43 and a record of 20-6 (the best on the team). He continued his regular season excellence in game two of the Division Series.
Moyer pitched six innings of five hit, one run ball. He also struck out five and only walked one man. His outing, along with help from the bullpen was too much for the Indians batters. The M’s would go on to win that game 5-1, tying the series at one a piece.
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In game five, Moyer had the same “stuff” that he brought to game two. In fact, he was even better. Moyer allowed just three hits over six innings and surrendered just one run.
The Mariners offense backed him up with just enough run support to hold onto the lead for good. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Mark McLemore hit a single to left scoring two runs. Later in the seventh inning, Edgar Martinez would single to score Ichiro. The game would finish 3-1.
The Mariners would move on to the ALCS for the third time in six seasons. They would also eventually lose for the third time in the ALCS (twice to the Yankees in back-to-back years).
No one knew it at the time, but the M’s loss to the Yankees in the 2001 ALCS would be the last time the organization would be in the playoffs for a long time.
It has now been fifteen years to the day that the M’s have been in the post season. But, instead of being sad about this, let us remember -if only for today- that the Mariners used to be playoff warriors. Hopefully, we will not have to keep looking back to revisit playoffs, and that the Mariners will soon break this wretched streak.
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