Hisashi Iwakuma Shines, Mariners Provide Run Support

The Seattle Mariners fell behind early, but the offense made sure Hisashi Iwakuma got his 3rd win of the season this time as they scored five times between the 3rd and 4th innings and went on to beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 in Arlington.

In Iwakuma’s last start, Fernando Rodney blew a 1-0 lead in the 9th and the M’s went onto lose the game. This time, after Adrien Beltre’s solo homer in the 2nd, Kuma settled in and the offense did the rest.

May 20, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nick Franklin (6) scores a run in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Saunders‘ RBI single in the 3rd tied the game. Then Kyle Seager singled in James Jones and Saunders to take a 3-1 lead. Nick Franklin, having just been called up from Tacoma, started at DH in place of the injured Corey Hart. Franklin hit a sac fly to score Robinson Cano and the lead was 4-1.

Franklin was 2-for-3 with a run scored and that RBI in his return to the big club. Seager was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and is now batting .329 against Texas in his career. Only Mike Zunino and Justin Smoak failed to collect hits as the Mariners tallied 12 knocks in the game. Every player reached base however as Zunino was hit by a pitch and Smoak drew a walk.

On the mound, Iwakuma was once again in mid-season form, despite it being only his 4th start of the season.

‘Kuma scattered six hits and walked only one, allowing two runs in eight innings of work before handing it over to relievers not named Rodney. Charlie Furbush and Danny Farquhar pitched a perfect ninth to seal the win.

The Mariners look for the short-series sweep in a matinee today. First pitch is set for 11:05 AM.

BOX SCORE

Batting

Seattle


	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K	SB	LOB	AVG
James JonesCF	5	1	1	0	0	1	0	2	.313
Michael SaundersRF	5	1	1	1	0	1	0	2	.260
Robinson Canó2B	4	1	2	1	1	0	1	0	.322
Justin Smoak1B	4	0	0	0	1	2	0	4	.238
Kyle Seager3B	5	0	3	2	0	0	0	3	.236
Nick FranklinDH	3	1	2	1	0	1	1	1	.211
Dustin AckleyLF	4	0	2	1	0	1	0	2	.265
Mike ZuninoC	3	1	0	0	0	3	0	3	.240
Brad MillerSS	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	.158
Totals	36	6	12	6	3	9	2	18

Batting

2B – K Seager (10, A Poreda); D Ackley (7, A Poreda)

SF – N Franklin

RBI – M Saunders (12), R Cano (25), K Seager 2 (25), N Franklin (1), D Ackley (19)

2-out RBI – R Cano, D Ackley

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – J Smoak 1, K Seager 2, M Zunino 2, B Miller 1

Team LOB – 9

Running

SB – R Cano (3, 2nd base off C Lewis/R Chirinos), N Franklin (1, 2nd base off C Lewis/R Chirinos)

CS – K Seager (2, 3rd base by A Poreda/R Chirinos)

Fielding

DP – 2 (R Cano-J Smoak, R Cano-B Miller-J Smoak)

Texas


	AB	R	H	RBI	HR	BB	K	LOB	AVG
Dan RobertsonCF	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.133
Elvis AndrusSS	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	.249
Shin-Soo ChooLF	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.302
Adrián Béltre3B	4	1	2	1	1	0	0	1	.261
Álex RíosRF	4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	.297
Mitch Moreland1B	3	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	.294
Michael ChoiceDH	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.202
Robinson ChirinosC	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.205
Rougned Odor2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.179
Totals	31	2	6	2	1	1	3	7

Batting

HR – A Beltre (4, 2nd inning off H Iwakuma 0 on, 0 Out)

RBI – A Beltre (15), A Rios (24)

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out – A Beltre 1

GIDP – M Moreland, M Choice

Team LOB – 3

Fielding

Outfield assists – S Choo

Pitching

Seattle


	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR	WHIP	ERA
Hisashi Iwakuma(W, 3-0)	8.0	6	2	2	1	3	1	0.72	1.76
Charlie Furbush	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.62	5.84
Danny Farquhar	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.20	2.91

Texas


	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	WHIP	ERA
Colby Lewis(L, 3-3)	6.0	9	5	5	3	6	1.75	5.40
Aaron Poreda	1.0	2	1	1	0	2	1.42	3.00
Alexi Ogando	2.0	1	0	0	0	1	1.93	6.86

HBP – N Franklin (by A Poreda); M Zunino (by C Lewis)

Pitches-strikes – H Iwakuma 99-64; C Furbush 2-2; D Farquhar 11-8; C Lewis 104-65; A Poreda 25-15; A Ogando 32-22

Ground balls-fly balls – H Iwakuma 11-8; C Furbush 1-0; D Farquhar 1-1; C Lewis 5-10; A Poreda 0-0; A Ogando 3-2

Batters faced – H Iwakuma 29; C Furbush 1; D Farquhar 2; C Lewis 30; A Poreda 5; A Ogando 7

Game Details

Game Time: 2:54.

Umpires: HP–Dan Bellino. 1B–Jeff Kellogg. 2B–Tom Woodring. 3B–D.J. Reyburn.

Weather: 84 degrees, Clear.

Wind: 16 mph, Right to Left.

Attendance: 43,706.