Seattle Mariners Game Recap: Lose, Lose Situation

The Seattle Mariners were faced with the unenviable task of being in two places at once this afternoon. The M’s played the Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday in split squad action. Unfortunately, the Mariners came up on the losing end in both contests.

The Mariners played pretty well despite losing to the Royals on Thursday in Peoria. Felix Hernandez (0-2, 5.91 ERA) took the hard luck loss for the Mariners today, after allowing 1 run on 2 hits across 6 innings of work. Veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie (1-1, 3.52 ERA) was on point this afternoon, hurling 5.2 innings of shutout ball. Ryan Madsen retired the Mariners easily in the bottom of the 9^th to record his first save of the spring.

Kansas City broke through in the top of the 3^rd inning. Second baseman Christian Colon led off the frame by lacing a double down the left field line. Colon advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Speedster Jarrod Dyson lifted a fly ball to center field to bring Colon in to the score. Dyson’s sacrifice fly gave the Royals a 1-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the top of the 8^th. Danny Farquhar was called in to pitch the 8^th for the M’s, and his spring struggles continued. Veteran Ryan Roberts led off the inning by singling on a line drive to left field. Christian Colon followed by working a walk. Former Mariner Casey Kotchman advanced the runners to second and third on a ground out back to the pitcher. Ryan Jackson came through with a clutch 2 out single to center field to plate Roberts and Colon. Jackson’s single gave the Royals a commanding 3-0 lead.

Click here for the full box score of today’s game against the Royals.

Roenis Elias and the Mariners got blown out today against the Brew Crew. Elias (0-2, 6.75 ERA) was roughed up, and suffered his second loss of the spring. Mike Fiers (1-1, 4.32 ERA) allowed just 1 run on 3 hits across 3.2 innings on Thursday afternoon to pick up the win.

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Obviously, the Brewers scored early and often in today’s game, but Kris Davis’s 1^st inning grand slam really set the tone. Second baseman Scooter Gennett also stood out, going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI on the day. All Star backstop Jonathan Lucroy contributed 3 hits Thursday to pace the Brew Crew. Luis Jimenez rubbed salt in the M’s wound when he smashed yet another grand slam in the bottom of the 8^th inning to give Milwaukee a 15-1 lead.

The lone Mariners’ run was scored in the top of the 3^rd inning. Port Orchard, WA product Willie Bloomquist connected on a 1 out double to center field. Backup catcher Jesus Sucre scored Bloomquist on a sharp line drive single to left field. Unfortunately, that was all the offense Seattle could muster on Thursday against Milwaukee.

Click here for the full box score of today’s game against the Brewers.

The Mariners played great on Wednesday in a rare Cactus League night game, and both squads looked tired in today’s day games. This is perfectly understandable, and hopefully the M’s come out swinging in tomorrow’s game against the Royals.

Next: King Felix Reclaims his Throne