Unflattering Imitation

Jonathan Cannon pitched last night just like Davis Martin did the night before, only worse. Cannon couldn’t make it out of the second inning, giving up seven runs, all earned, on four hits and three walks. Nothing like seeing those three walks all score. Final Score: Mariners 8 Sox 6. With the loss, Cannon’s record stands at 4-9 with a 5.34 ERA. The Sox actually have a lot of pitching talent coming up, and not all of it included on their top-30 list (e.g., Riley Gowens and Shane Murphy). If Cannon can’t turn it around, the rotation next year won’t lack for alternatives. Despite the hole Cannon dug, his teammates nearly came back, putting the tying runs on base with nobody out in the ninth against closer Andres Munoz, who’d already given up a long ball to Michael A. Taylor. Munoz came into the game with a 1.26 ERA. He departed with his 26th save and a 1.43 ERA. Oh, well. Two ripples of silver lining—Lenyn Sosa homered again, and Brooks Baldwin went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Baldwin also worked the count for a walk against Munoz, no small feat that. In a real stunner of a move, manager New-Mickey Venable has Baldwin penciled in again today. Wonders never cease.