Mariners Roster Hopefuls Help Team To 6-2 Victory Versus Brewers

Feb 28, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Ben Gamel (16) waits on deck prior to the start of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Ben Gamel (16) waits on deck prior to the start of the game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Mariners stars watched their backups shine as the team defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2 this afternoon. The bats backed up the M’s strong pitching performance led by Ariel Miranda on route to their fifth win this spring.

The Mariners only played five expected starters at all in today’s ball game: Nelson Cruz, Jean Segura, Mitch Haniger, Dan Vogelbach, and Jarrod Dyson. Together these five men went 4-13 with one run driven in, one run scored, and two strikeouts.

It was the other 15 guys, all either non-roster invitees or backups that carried the weight for today’s M’s squad this afternoon.

The veteran, Carlos Ruiz, started the run scoring with a single in the bottom of the 4th to tie the game at one. He was followed by Ben Gamel who brought in the team’s second run in the 5th and then Boog Powell drove in another in the 6th.

Both Powell and Gamel have started out the spring on a tear. Powell is batting a scorching an incredible .714 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Gamel is slashing .333 also with two RBIs and three runs scored.

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In the 7th, the Mariners scored three more runs, first by a bases loaded walk that scored Sebastian Valle and then Guillermo Heredia blasted a single that scored two more runs.

Heredia has arguably been the best M’s batter so far this spring. His four doubles still lead all spring players, his five runs scored are tied for second-best in either the cactus or grapefruit leagues and his seven runs batted in are tied for third-best this spring training. All the while he is also batting .583.

Milwaukee would add one run in the 8th in an attempt to come back against the surging Mariners, but fell four runs short when the game ended 6-2.

Their five wins in third-best in the Cactus League only behind the New York Yankees who are 7-1 and the Los Angeles Angels who are a perfect 6-0.

Next: The Mariners Defeat Indians 7-4

Their chance for win six looks pretty good going into Friday’s 12:05 PST game against the 1-6 Texas Rangers.