Mariners Game Recap: Mariners Prince Shines against Kansas City in M’s Win

May 29, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker (32) throws against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Taijuan Walker (32) throws against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Seattle Mariners win a seesaw battle on Wednesday afternoon against the World Champion Kansas City Royals in Peoria, AZ.

7. 62. 5. 7. Final

The Seattle Mariners (4-4) got back to .500 with a win on Wednesday afternoon against a split squad Kansas City Royals (3-5) in Peoria, AZ.  The M’s put up 7 runs and outlast the Kansas City Royals to end up on top 7-5.  Adrian Sampson (1-0, 6.75 ERA) earned the win for the Mariners, and Brooks Pounders (0-1, 18.00 ERA) took the loss for the Royals. Jonathan Aro closed it out for Seattle in the ninth for his second save of the spring.

More from Mariners News

Taijuan Walker got the start for Seattle, and after two quick outs in the first inning gave up two singles to Lorenzo Cain and Kendrys Morales. However, the Prince was able to get out of it unscathed.  In the second inning he retired the three batters he faced.  Drew Butera welcomed the Prince with a home run to dead center field on the first pitch in the third inning.  But Walker was able to retire the next three batters in order.  His line was very good as he gave up 3 hits, 1 run, and had 5 strikeouts in a very Prince-like effort.

Cody Martin took over in the 4th inning for Walker.  He had a bit of a rough start giving up 2 runs in the 4th inning.  He walked two and gave up three singles.  Raymond Fuentes and Drew Butera each had RBI singles for the Royals.  Then Martin settled down and got six straight outs in the 5th and 6th innings.  A very good outing for Cody Martin.  Adrian Sampson continued this with a 1-2-3 seventh inning before giving up a run in the 8th on a passed ball by Steven Lerud.  Jonathan Aro closed it out in the 9th after giving up a run on a sac fly by Whit Merrifield.

Matt Strahm got the starting nod for Kansas City.  He seemed to be skating right through the Mariners lineup as he was perfect through two innings.  However, the wheels began to fall off in the third.  He started off with a walk to Chris Iannetta and then when Leonys Martin hit a routine double play grounder right back at him, he stepped on the mound and threw the ball into center field to allow Iannetta to get to third.  Ketel Marte then hit a sacrifice fly ball to score Ianetta.  Strahm then picked off Leonys Martin, but Kendrys Morales errantly threw the ball into center field.  Then Kyle Seager made the Royals pay by hitting a line drive single to right field scoring Martin from second.  That would be it for Strahm as he went 2.2 innings and gave up 2 unearned runs and had 2 strikeouts and one walk.

More from SoDo Mojo

The Mariners offense would steal the show in the late innings, not with power but with great situational hitting as has been the case this spring.  Stefen Romero continued his torrid spring with a double to center field in the 6th inning to score Benji Gonzalez.  Then Ed Lucas followed with a single to left field to score Romero from second base and tying the game at 4-4.  In the 8th inning Benji Gonzalez led off with a bunt single. Ed Lucas then hit a ground rule double to center field to score Gonzalez.  Dae-ho Lee followed with an RBI single to center to score Lucas.  Lee would score on a fielding error by the first baseman Whit Merrifield to round out the Mariners scoring at 7 runs.

It was wonderful for fans to see the new set on Root Sports as this was the first televised game that was broadcast this season by them.  For those of us with baseball fever, it merely began to quell the thirst by showing us moving images of the Seattle Mariners in sunny Arizona.  To top it off the Mariners came away with the win 7-5 against the World Champion Kansas City Royals.

Next: Mariners Analysis: Stefen Romero & His Fast Start to Spring Training

The Seattle Mariners (4-4) will try to go for two wins in a row tomorrow as they play host to the Chicago Cubs (1-7) in Peoria, AZ. First pitch is again scheduled for 12:10 pm PT from the Peoria Sports Complex. Wade Miley (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will be on the mound for the Mariners in his second spring training start, and Jon Lester (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Chicago Cubs for his first start this spring. Root Sports will carry the game live locally, and MLB.tv subscribers can watch worldwide on connected devices.  ESPN Radio 710 will again carry a delayed broadcast.