Max's First Win As A Starting Pitcher
Max was the starting pitcher for the Mariners against the Blue Jays on June 20, 2001.The Mariners were the visitors. The Mariners were losing 5-4 after 1, 7-6 after 2, and were ahead 10-7 after 2 1/2 innings. Max was to face the Blue Jays 7, 8 & 9 hitters in the bottom of the third inning. He hit the number 7 hitter, walked the number 8 hitter and hit the 9 hitter. Coach Bill went out to the pitcher's mound and told Max that he's going one batter at a time, if he walked anyone he was finished for the night and that Coach Bill didn't want to have to come out to the mound again. Max strikes out the number 1 hitter, and the 2 hitter, who was the top draft pick in the league, pops to short. The number 3 hitter grounds out to first, unassisted. Game over, Max wins 10-7. Oh yeah, the team the Mariners beat was in first place for the second half at the time!!
To read about Max's big hit in a play-off game in the Summer of 2000, as written by Max, click here!