Mariners Game Recap: Slugging M’s fall to Dodgers in Extras

Apr 13, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Alex Guerrero (7) celebrates with teammates Yasiel Puig (66), Andre Ethier (16), Howie Kendrick (74) and Yasmani Grandal (9) after hitting a bases-loaded walk-off single in the 10th inning against the Seattle Mariners in an interleague game at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Mariners 6-5 in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners went to extra innings for the 3rd consecutive game, but unlike the previous 2 games, the M’s came up short on Monday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers were down early, but managed come back and win tonight at Dodgers Stadium. Yimi Garcia (1-0, 1.80 ERA) got his first win of the season after hurling a perfect 10th inning. Dominic Leone (0-1, 3.86 ERA) pitched 2 spotless innings in relief, but he ran into some trouble in his 3rd inning.

The Seattle Mariners started the ballgame with a boom—literally. Robinson Cano has had a slow start to the season, but he sliced a single to left field with 2 outs in the top of the 1st inning. Nelson “Boomstick” Cruz hit a deep fly ball to right field that just snuck over the fence for a 2-run home run.

The M’s doubled their lead in the top of the 4th. Nelson Cruz had himself quite a night on Monday and he clubbed his second homer of the game in the 4th inning off Brandon McCarthy. Kyle Seager made it back-to-back jacks by yanking a solo home run deep to right field. Seag’s dinger made it 4-0 Mariners.

The Dodgers came storming back in the bottom of the 4th inning. Yasiel Puig led off the frame with a single to right field. Following an Adrian Gonzalez force out, Howie Kendrick doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third with only 1 out. Scott Van Slyke walked to load the bases, and the Dodgers pushed their first run across on an Alex Guerrero sacrifice fly. Rookie center fielder Joc Pederson plated a pair of runs on a single to left field. The Dodgers trailed 4-3 after 4 innings.

The Mariners extended their lead in the top of the 5th inning. Dustin Ackley has been the Mariners’ best hitter over the first week of the season, and he hit his 3rd home run of the season on Monday night. Unfortunately, Ackley’s home run was of the solo variety, but the AckAttack gave the M’s a 5-3 lead.

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Unfortunately, Seattle’s lead was short lived. Mariners’ starter James Paxton retired the first 2 hitters of the 5th inning, but the Pax-Man had a hard time with Yasiel Puig. The Dodgers’ right fielder is one of the most powerful hitters in the game, and he proved it on Monday night. Puig drilled a solo home run to left field to make it a 1 run game. Adrian Gonzalez has been the hottest hitter in baseball over the last week, and he contributed a 2 out double to the Dodgers’ cause in the 5th. Howie Kendrick came through with an RBI single to right field. Kendrick’s single tied the game at 5.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the 10th inning. Dom Leone was dominant through his first 2 innings of relief, but veteran Andre Ethier led off the 10th with a double. Puig grounded out weakly to the pitcher, but Gonzo was intentionally walked. Howie Kendrick was unintentionally walked, and Lloyd McClendon opted to bring in rookie Tyler Olson with the bases juiced. The Spokane product struck out Carl Crawford swinging to give Mariners’ fans hope. However, Alex Guerrero drove in Ethier on a 2 out single to right field.

The full box score can be found here.

Next: Pax-Man Struggles in LA