Baseball statistics track how teams perform by month and on each day of the week. With the Mariners opening a three-game series on Friday in Cleveland, we were wondering how the Mariners have performed historically in Friday the 13th games.
When the Mariners open a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians on Friday night at Progressive Field, it will mark their first FRIDAY THE 13TH game since FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010, when they recorded THIRTEEN total bases, despite THIRTEEN ground ball outs, in a 3-2 win over the Tribe, also by Lake Erie.
The Mariners are 9-18 in all FRIDAY THE 13TH games (regular season and postseason) and 1-3 against the Indians in such contests, which, as you might suspect, have generally been very weird affairs:
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1977 / Red Sox 7, Ms 5
The Mariners play a game for the first time on FRIDAY THE 13TH and yield THIRTEEN hits in a loss to the Boston Red Sox at the Kingdome. Defensively, the Mariners record THIRTEEN assists.
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1984 / Twins 4, Ms 3
Starter Mike Moore induces THIRTEEN ground ball outs and Seattles defensive registers THIRTEEN assists, but the Mariners lose to the Minnesota Twins, who amazingly also record THIRTEEN assists.
FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1984 / Red Sox 9, Ms 5
For the first time in club history, the Mariners play under a FULL MOON on FRIDAY THE 13TH and, remarkably, pound out THIRTEEN hits, but lose to Oil Can Boyd and the Red Sox. This marks the first time in franchise history that the Mariners have lost two FRIDAY THE 13TH games in one season.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1986 / Ms 11, White Sox 10
The Mariners parlay THIRTEEN hits off Joel Davis, Dave Schmidt and former Mariner Gene Nelson into a win over the Chicago White Sox on a weird night when starter Mike Moore fails to win with a 6-0 lead and doesnt lose despite giving up nine runs.
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1988 / Red Sox 14, Ms 8
Boston is credited with THIRTEEN RBIs in its lopsided romp over the Mariners at Fenway Park. Seattle pitchers Mike Campbell and Jerry Reed combine to allow THIRTEEN of the Red Sox 14 runs.
FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1990 / Indians 13, Ms 7
After Elvira, the Mistress of the Dark, throws out the ceremonial first pitch on Fright Night at the Kingdome, the Cleveland Indians score THIRTEEN runs and beat the Mariners, who fall to 3-10 all time in THIRTEEN FRIDAY THE 13TH games. Not only do the Indians collect THIRTEEN hits off Seattle pitchers Matt Young, Mike Jackson and Gene Harris, the Cleveland defense records THIRTEEN assists. The THIRTEEN runs are the most the Mariners have allowed in 1990 since their season home opener, when they gave up 15 runs to the Oakland As on FRIDAY, APRIL 13TH. This also marks the second time in franchise history that the Mariners have lost two FRIDAY THE 13TH games in one season.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13, 1991 / Royals 3, Ms 2
Randy Johnson takes a two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth against Kansas City, but the bullpen (Bill Swift, Russ Swan, Mike Jackson) fails to protect it, costing the Big Unit his THIRTEENTH win of the season.
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1994 / Angels 11, Ms 1
Seattle starter Dave Fleming matches a franchise record by allowing THIRTEEN hits in a loss to the California Angels in the Kingdome. The Angels No. 2-No. 5 hitters, Chad Curtis, Tim Salmon, Chili Davis and Bo Jackson, combine for THIRTEEN hits. Amazingly, both the Ms and Angels record THIRTEEN assists. Seattle reliever Bobby Ayala, wearing jersey No. THIRTEEN, allows three runs on three hits in just one-third of an inning in his only FRIDAY THE 13TH appearance for the Mariners.
FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 1995 / Ms 5, Indians 2
The Mariners play their first postseason game on a FRIDAY THE 13TH and defeat Cleveland at Jacobs Field in Game 3 of the ALCS. But its the Mariners last victory in the series.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13, 1996 / Ms 13, Twins 7
The Mariners not only score THIRTEEN runs on FRIDAY THE 13TH for the first time in franchise history, they are officially credited with THIRTEEN RBIs. Seattle rallies to win after starter Sterling Hitchcock allows five runs on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings while facing only THIRTEEN batters.
FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 2000 / Yankees 2, Ms 1
The Ms become the first team in baseballs live-ball era (1920) to lose a postseason game played under a FULL MOON on FRIDAY THE 13TH. Amazingly, the New York Yankees collect exactly THIRTEEN hits off Seattle pitchers Aaron Sele, Brett Tomko and Rob Ramsay as the Mariners fall to 0-2 in games played under a FULL MOON on FRIDAY THE 13TH.
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2001 / Angels 4, Ms 3
Seattle third baseman David Bell goes 0-for-4 while looking at just THIRTEEN pitches in the Mariners one-run loss to the Angels, who are led by Garrett Anderson, who collects two RBIs in four at-bats while also looking at just THIRTEEN pitches.
FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2001 / Giants 5, Ms 3
The Mariners whiff THIRTEEN times in their interleague loss to the San Francisco Giants at Safeco Field. Amazingly, its the second FRIDAY THE 13TH loss of 2001, a season in which the Ms went 116-46.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13, 2002 / As 5, Mariners 0
The Ms endure the first shutout loss in franchise history in a FRIDAY THE 13TH game. Ray Durham knocks in three runs for the As and takes Seattles Ismael Valdez deep with his THIRTEENTH homer of the season.
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2005 / Ms 14, Red Sox 7
The Mariners pound out THIRTEEN hits in their FRIDAY THE 13TH victory over the Red Sox, who strand THIRTEEN runners. This marks the third THIRTEEN-hit performance by the Mariners in a FRIDAY THE 13TH game.
FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2007 / Rangers 5, Mariners 2
Eric Gagne of the Texas Rangers needs just THIRTEEN pitches to collect his first save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Mariners at Safeco Field.
FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2008 / Nationals 7, Mariners 6
The Mariners and Washington Nationals combine for THIRTEEN runs in Washington’s 7-6 victory over Seattle at Safeco Field. Winning pitcher Shawn Hill induces THIRTEEN fly ball outs.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2010 / Mariners 3, Indians 2
The Mariners amass THIRTEEN total bases in their victory over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 / Opponent TBD
Assuming this is not an off-day, the Mariners will attempt to break an 0-for-2 slide in games played under a FULL MOON on FRIDAY THE 13TH.