Brandon Morrow dispatched the first six Yankees he faced, opening his career as a starting pitcher with flare and style.
Andy Pettitte, meanwhile, allowed a hit and a walk but no runs in the second inning.
What, you thought this would be easy?
No score through two. ...

The Mariners have given the kid the lead, scoring in the third inning.
Miguel Cairo doubled, Ichiro singled him to third and Yuniesky Betancourt got Cairo home with a fly ball.
Through three innings, Morrow hasn't allowed a baserunner.
Mariners 1, Yankees 0 ...

Morrow has breezed, Pettitte not so much.
The Mariners broke through in the fourth with Balentien's second hit, Matt Tuiasosopo's first - a double - and Kenji Johjima's RBI single.
Miguel Cairo got a second run home and it's Pettitte, not Morrow, who's in trouble.
Morrow is throwing his fastball, curve and change for strikes, and the Yankees haven't figured him out.
Morrow's thrown 46 pitches through four.
Mariners 3, Yankees 0 ...

Well, let it be said now - Morrow never pitched this well in a Pacific Coast League start.
The Yankees are hitless through six innings, and Morrow has made it look easy. The closest thing to a hit was Johnny Damon's line drive at Cairo, and Cairo didn't have to move to catch it.
Since manager Jim Riggleman was sayin pre-game that he'd take six innings tonight, Morrow has given him all he'd hoped for and more.
Morrow has never thrown more thqan 82 pitches in a game as a professional, so he'll be monitored closely next inning as he passes that mark.
To the seventh:
Mariners 3, Yankees 0 ...

With two out and Jason Giambi at bat, a Safeco Field crowd of 39,518 stood and cheered Brandon Morrow - who got Giambi on a fly ball to end the seventh.
Two Yanks have reached base, both on walks.
In his first ML start, Morrow is six outs from a no-hitter.
Mariners 3, Yankees 0 ...

In the Yankee 8th:
Xavier Nady struck out on a nasty breaking ball.
Hideki Matsui walked on a 3-2 pitch - Morrow's 100th of the night.
Robinson Cano flied out to the wall in center.
Wilson Betemit doubled tgo right field, Matsui scoring.
Morrow got a standing ovation, and pulled from the game after 106 pitches.
Rookie Justin Thomas now pitching.
Mariners 3, Yankees 1 ...

History aside now, the Mariners need three outs for a win - and they're asking J.J. Putz to get them.
Mariners fans seemed to have enjoyed this game more tonight than if they'd seen the scheduled starting pitcher, Jarrod Washburn, pitch.

Against the New York Yankees and an expected sellout crowd at Safeco Field, two long-awaited Mariners debuts take place tonight.

The first is starting pitcher Brandon Morrow, the hard-throwing right-hander who was so good in relief.

The second, third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo, a tools player the team would love to see come on strong in September.

Expect both to undero growing pains.

Morrow hasn't started enough to get consistency, let alone domination. He's on a long learning curve, and September will just be the beginning of that.

As for Tuiasosopo, he may be as good an athlete as there is in the system, a shortstop converted to third because the Mariners thought he'd get to the big leagues sooner.

For those who think there's no reason to watch the Mariners the rest of the way, it's something to consider.
Are these kids the future or more examples of close-but-not-quite stars?