HBT: Mariners end Weaver's home dominance

Jesus Montero took the normally unbeatable Jered Weaver deep twice Sunday as the Mariners topped the Angels in Anaheim 4-1.

Weaver entered the day having won nine straight starts. He was 8-0 with a 0.92 ERA at home this year and 15-1 with a 2.13 ERA overall. His only previous defeat came in Texas back on May 13.

True to form, Montero had his big game after getting the start at catcher. He?s hit .316/.353/.513 with eight homers in 40 games as a catcher this year, compared to .243/.288/.344 with four homers in 58 games as a designated hitter.

Montero?s struggles as a designated hitter have to be of some concern to the Mariners, given that he also hasn?t shown much to suggest that he belongs behind the plate for the long haul. ?The team made University of Florida catcher Mike Zunino the third overall pick in the 2011 draft, and he could be ready to start in the majors as soon as 2014. The Mariners may want to think about trying Montero at first base next year. Justin Smoak isn?t looking like much of a road block there.

As for Weaver, he came up one win shy of matching Chuck Finley?s Angels recover for consecutive starts won. He?s still right there with Justin Verlander in the AL Cy Young race, though. The two are tied for the AL lead with 15 wins. Weaver tops the circuit with a 2.22 ERA, while Verlander is second at 2.46. Verlander, however, has a huge lead in innings (175 2/3 to 138) and also ranks first in the AL in strikeouts with 174 (Weaver has 106).

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/12/mariners-end-jered-weavers-long-winning-streak/related/

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