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Former Dirtbags Jeremy Reed And Greg Dobbs Doing Their Best To Smash Angels Post Season Hopes

Superb Franklin helps Mariners prevail
Dobbs' game-winning single caps duel with Angels
By Jim Street / MLB.com

SEATTLE -- The five-man infield the Angels used against the Mariners in the ninth inning on Tuesday night worked out great for the team trying to widen its lead in the American League West.

But the Mariners had just enough outs remaining to overcome the unusual defense, which produced a double play and kept the winning run at third base. The decisive blow came two batters later, when Greg Dobbs delivered a walk-off single to center field, scoring Jeremy Reed for a 2-1 Mariners victory before 28,803 at Safeco Field.

It was the Mariners' second consecutive win to open the three-game series.

"We want to compete and show people we can play," Reed said. "We are not giving up."...

The bottom of the ninth inning started when Reed pushed a bunt past Byrd and beat out a single. Raul Ibanez dumped a single into right-center, putting runners on first and third with nobody out.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia replaced center fielder Steve Finley with infielder Maicer Izturis, and stationed him on the first-base side of second. So, the Angels had five infielders staring at Richie Sexson when he came to bat.

Right-handed reliever Scot Shields, who had just replaced Byrd, induced Sexson to hit into a 4-8-3 double play.

"You don't see that very often," Hargrove said of the five-man infield, "but I have seen it work. What do you have to lose?"

While the Angels turned two, Reed remained at third base.

Hargrove explained that if there had been one out, or it was earlier in the game, Reed might have been instructed by third-base coach Carlos Garcia to run on contact to prevent the opposition from trying to pulling off a double play.

But with none out, Reed was told to make sure the ball went through the infield.

"It was late in the game, and that was the winning run," Hargrove said. "If he stays on third base, there are a lot of ways he can score other than a base hit."

Reed said he never had seen a five-man infield before, and the thought of trying to score the game-winning run "crossed my mind, but I had to let the ball go through right there. If I run, they have an opportunity to step on second and throw me out."

The play worked for the Angels, but Scioscia decided to walk Beltre intentionally and face Dobbs -- a rookie with far less experience.

After Beltre took second base uncontested, Dobbs lined his walk-off single into center field.

"I can't say that I blame [Scioscia]," Hargrove said. "In that situation, I would rather pitch to Greg Dobbs than Adrian Beltre. But if Dobber keeps coming through like that, they probably will stop doing that."

Dobbs was mobbed at first base by his teammates.

"You've got to have positive thoughts in that situation," he said. "I was looking for something that I can put a good swing on."

Dobbs did just that, and the Angels were foiled by another Mariners rookie.

"We have a lot of young guys who are getting playing time, and we're trying to strive to make the club next year," Reed said. "We have to keep plugging away and try to win every game we can."