Seattle Mariners Game Recap: Zunino Homers Twice in Tie

The Seattle Mariners tied the Texas Rangers Friday afternoon in Surprise, AZ. It turned out to be an entertaining game because of the back and forth nature. Roenis Elias started the game for Seattle, and pitched pretty well in his four innings of work. Rangers’ starter Derek Holland blanked the M’s for the first three innings.

After being stymied in each of the first two innings by Roenis Elias, the Rangers opted to shake things up to start the third. Speedster Hanser Alberto laid down a perfect bunt to reach base safely. Elias attempted a pickoff at first base, but was called for a balk and Alberto was awarded second base. Nomar Mazara singled on hard hit grounder that second baseman Shawn O’Malley was unable to corral. The Rangers had runners on the corners with none out. Elliot Johnson lofted a fly ball to right-center field that was deep enough to bring Alberto in from third base. Texas took a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning.

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However, the Rangers lead was short lived. The M’s got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning on Friday. Mariners’ backstop Mike Zunino drilled a Jon Edwards offering deep to left-center field for a solo home run. Zunino has always had big time power, but this spring he has looked like a much more complete hitter at the plate.

The Rangers jumped back out in front of the Mariners in the bottom of the fifth. Roenis Elias was chased from the game after surrendering back-to-back walks to start the inning. Charlie Furbush was called upon to get the M’s out of the jam. Nate Shierholtz reached on a fielding error by Furbush to load the bases for the Rangers with nobody out. Following a Mitch Moreland strikeout, Adrian Beltre worked a walk to bring Nomar Mazara in to score from third base. Furbush induced an inning ending double play, and the Rangers led 2-1 after five.

Once again, Texas’s lead was short lived. 19-year-old phenom Alex Jackson showed great patience and worked a leadoff walk to open the sixth inning. Mike Zunino had himself quite a day on Friday afternoon in Surprise, and he clubbed his second dinger of the day. Zunino’s bomb just stayed fair down the left field line to give the M’s a 3-2 lead.

The Rangers reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Elliot Johnson reached base on a walk to open the inning. First baseman Mitch Moreland muscled up on a Tom Wilhelmsen fastball for a two run home run. Texas held a 4-3 lead in the seventh. Moreland had a great nine pitch at bat before blasting the ball over the right field fence.

The Mariners fought back once more to tie the game at 4 in the top of the eighth inning. Top prospect Alex Jackson connected on his first home run in a Mariners’ uniform on a deep fly ball to right-center field. Jackson has some big league power, and the opposite field homer showcased it.

Joe Saunders has had a rough go of it thus far in spring training for the Mariners, but he managed to keep the Rangers out of the run column in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the tie. Saunders is miles behind David Rollins and Tyler Olson in the competition for the second lefty in the bullpen, but he looked much better in today’s outing.

The entire box score can be found here.

Next: Roenis Elias Allow 1 Run in 4 Innings

Mar 5, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Roenis Elias (29) throws in the first inning during a spring training baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Roenis Elias allowed 1 earned run across four innings of work on Friday afternoon in Surprise. Elias allowed five hits and walked two, but fanned five Rangers. Elias lowered his spring ERA to 3.86 following today’s performance.

Roenis Elias was tested early on Friday afternoon. Elliot Johnson led off the bottom of the first by hitting a triple to left field. Elias struck out a pair of Rangers and induced a ground ball to second baseman Shawn O’Malley to end the threat. Elias did a great job of refocusing himself after the leadoff triple and retiring the next three batters to strand Johnson at third base.

The 26-year-old had the curveball working this afternoon, and that was his primary strikeout pitch. It will be tough for Elias to catch Taijuan Walker for the final spot in the Mariners’ starting rotation, but the Guantanamo native has pitched well this spring. Elias will likely start the season in Tacoma, but if the injury bug bites one of the M’s starters, he should be the first man called up to fill in.

Next: Zunino Goes Yard X2

Alex Jackson made his spring debut on Thursday night, and on Friday afternoon he hit his first home run in a Mariners’ uniform. Jackson was recently named the top prospect in the Mariners’ farm system by MLB.com, and his performance over the past 48 hours speaks to his incredible potential. The 19-year-old corner outfielder looked like a seasoned vet in his first at bat, working a seven-pitch walk. Obviously, the home run stands out, but his comfort in the outfield is equally as impressive. Look for Jackson to make his debut in Seattle as early as September of 2016.

Austin Cousino is another youngster who came through for the Mariners late in Friday’s game. Cousino is considered a plus defender in center field, but scouts have doubts about his hit tool. The University of Kentucky alum proved his critics wrong today. Cousino laced a two out triple down the right field line in the ninth inning. The M’s failed to cash him in, but Cousino’s speed running the bases was very impressive.

Next: Looking Ahead

Mar 10, 2015; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher

Felix Hernandez

(34) throws in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners will play a Saturday matinee in Mesa, AZ against the Chicago Cubs. First pitch is set for 1:05 PST from Sloan Park. Mariners’ ace Felix Hernandez (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the spring on Saturday afternoon. Lefty Eric Jokisch (0-0, 7.20 ERA) will be on the mound for the North Siders. Tomorrow’s game can be heard locally on 710 ESPN.

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