Seattle Mariners Game Recap: Smith Goes Yard, but M’s Lose

Mar 24, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher

Andrew Cashner

(34) on the mound during a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners (9-10) came up short on Tuesday afternoon against the San Diego Padres (11-10). The M’s lost 6-4 this afternoon, but did receive strong performances from many of their regulars. Hard throwing right-hander Andrew Cashner (2-0, 3.00 ERA) was credited with the win, and J.A. Happ (1-2, 7.27 ERA) took the loss. Shawn Kelley shut the door for the Padres in the ninth to pick up his first save of the spring.

Austin Jackson and Seth Smith combined to give Seattle an early lead on Tuesday. AJ led off the ballgame with a ringing double to center field. Smith plated Jackson on a single to left field. The Mariners took a 1 run lead into the bottom of the first inning.

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J.A. Happ made it through the first inning unscathed, but the Padres teed off on the veteran lefty in the second and third innings. Justin Upton led off the second inning by doubling on a fly ball to left field. Following a Will Middlebrooks single and a Wil Nieves walk, the Padres had the bases loaded with just 1 out. Clint Barmes scored Upton and Middlebrooks on a single to left field. Cashner helped out his own cause by hitting an RBI ground out. San Diego held a 3-1 lead entering the third inning.

Seth Smith was unstoppable on Tuesday afternoon. The veteran outfielder clubbed a 92-mph fastball over the wall in right-center field to open the top of the third inning. The home run was the first of the spring for the surging Smith. The round tripper cut the Padres lead in half, making the score 3-2.

However, the momentum gained from Smith’s homer was quickly squashed in the bottom half of the third inning. Second baseman Jedd Gyorko worked a lead off walk for the Padres. Matt Kemp got a fastball he could handle, and tripled on a line drive to center field. Gyorko hustled around to score on Kemp’s triple. Justin Upton gave the Padres a 6-2 lead after clobbering an 86-mph slider deep to left-center field.

The Mariners began slowly chipping away at the Padres lead in the top of the fourth inning. Dustin Ackley hit a 1 out double on a deep fly ball to center field. Ackley advanced to third base on a Brad Miller ground out. Austin Jackson came through with a 2 out RBI single to center field. AJ’s single trimmed the San Diego lead to three.

The M’s refused to throw in the towel on Tuesday, and they engineered a late inning comeback. The versatile Willie Bloomquist led of the top of the eighth by singling on a line drive to left field. Old reliable Endy Chavez connected on an RBI double to center field to bring the Mariners to within two. Unfortunately, it proved to be too little too late, as that was as close as Seattle could get today.

The entire box score can be found here.

Next: J.A. Happ Continues to Disappoint

Mar 24, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher J.A. Happ (33) on the mound during a spring training game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The only positive for J.A. Happ on Tuesday was that he got his work in. Happ surrendered 5 earned runs on 8 hits across 3.2 innings of work against the Padres. He struck out 3 and walked 3 this afternoon. Of his 80 pitches, just 45 managed to find the strike zone. This afternoon’s performance is the second time in three outings Happ has been roughed up this spring.

The M’s dealt for the 32-year-old southpaw this past winter from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Michael Saunders. Happ has been largely unimpressive in his first three outings as a Mariner. He sports a gaudy 7.27 ERA across 8.2 innings of work. Happ has allowed 7 earned runs on 11 hits. He has tallied 6 punch-outs and he has issued 4 free passes in spring training. He has also given up 2 long balls this spring.

Happ is a fly ball pitcher, and thus pitching in the Arizona heat does not match his skill set. I still have high hopes for Happ in 2015, especially when he is called upon to pitch at Safeco Field. He is entering his contract season, and your can bet he will do everything in his power to produce a career year with the M’s.

Next: Seth Smith is on Fire

Mar 24, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Seth Smith (7) at bat during a spring training game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Seth Smith was an under-the-radar pickup by the M’s this offseason, but he could prove to be an impact addition in 2015. Smith went 2 for 3 this afternoon, with 2 RBI’s and a home run. The dinger was his first of the spring, but he has hit the ball hard consistently for the past couple of weeks.

The 32-year-old was hitless in his first 8 at bats this spring, but he has gone 7 for 20 since. Smith has 3 doubles, 1 home run, and 4 RBI’s batting exclusively out of the number 2 spot in the Mariners’ lineup in spring training. Smith has also shown himself to be a quality defender out in right field this month.

Seth Smith is expected to share right field duties with Justin Ruggiano in 2015, but Smith will get the majority of the starts this season. He should have a chance to produce a career year batting in front of Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager.

Next: Austin Jackson Just Keeps Hitting

Mar 18, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Austin Jackson (16) at bat against the Oakland Athletics at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Many Mariners’ fans were unhappy with Austin Jackson’s performance down the stretch in 2014. The M’s acquired the 28-year-old center fielder from the Detroit Tigers at last year’s trade deadline, and the hope was that he would be a force at the top of the M’s lineup. Jackson hit just .229 across 223 at bats in a Mariners’ uniform last season, but he has been electric in spring training.

AJ went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI on Tuesday afternoon against the Padres. He has been incredible over the first few weeks of spring training, hitting .351 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 RBI’s across 27 at bats atop the Mariners’ lineup. Jackson has largely faced big league pitchers in spring training, and appears primed for a huge season in 2015.

Jackson is set to hit free agency following the season, and he could be in for a big payday if he can show himself to be a consistent offensive contributor in 2015. He is considered an elite defender in center field, and if AJ can keep up his hot hitting when the games count, he could find himself representing the Mariners at the All Star game in July.

Next: Looking Ahead