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Seattle Mariners Game Recap: Mike Zunino Homers 2X

By Brian Helberg |
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Mar 28, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; A sign inside the complex warms fans to be aware of objects leaving the playing field during a spring training game between the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

8. 62. 9. 40. Final

The San Francisco Giants pulled off a miracle comeback to beat the Seattle Mariners Saturday afternoon in Peoria. The Arizona sun was devastating today, but not nearly as devastating as the M’s blowing a 4 run lead in the 9th inning. Erasmo Ramirez (1-2, 6.23 ERA) stunk up the joint, and was charged with his second loss of the spring. Santiago Casilla (1-0, 7.20 ERA) earned the win, and Hunter Strickland picked up his first save of the spring.

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The Giants jumped out to an early lead following a Gregor Blanco leadoff triple down the right field line. Blanco came in to score on a Travis Ishikawa ground out to shortstop Willie Bloomquist. San Francisco took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the 1st inning.

However, the lead was short lived, as the Mariners stormed back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the 1st. Seth Smith delivered a 1 out single on a ground ball through the right side of the infield. Robinson Cano has been brilliant this spring, and he tied the game this afternoon by doubling on a fly ball down the left field line. Cano made it to third base following a throwing error, and Nelson Cruz put the M’s in front by hitting a sacrifice fly to left field.

Mike Zunino entered today’s ballgame with 4 homeruns this spring, and in the second inning he clubbed his 5th spring training dinger. Zunino’s homerun was of the solo variety, and the Mariners took a 3-1 lead into the top of the 4th inning.

The 4th inning was not very kind to Mariners’ starter Hisashi Iwakuma. The veteran right-hander issued a rare walk to open the frame. 2014 NL Comeback Player of the Year Casey McGehee punched a groundball through the left side of the infield. Jason Maxwell cleared the bases by crushing an Iwakuma slider deep to left field for a three run blast. The ball cleared the fence with ease, and pushed the Giants back in front 4-3.

The Mariners’ bats were alive this afternoon, and with the help of Kyle Seager, the M’s retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th. Seager led off the inning with a bang, as he lined a Jake Peavy fastball at the lounging fans in right field. The homerun was the 3rd of the spring for the Mariners’ All Star third baseman. Logan Morrison reached base after working an 8-pitch walk. Following a Zunino pop out, Dustin Ackley hit a single to right field. LoMo chugged around to third base on Ackley’s single to put runners on the corners with just 1 out. Willie Bloomquist singled on a ground ball to left field to put the Mariners back on top. Ackley came around to score on a Just Ruggiano single to give the M’s a 6-4 lead after 4 innings.

Seattle added to their lead in the bottom of the 6th inning. Mike Zunino clobbered his second big fly of the game to give the Mariners a 7-4 lead. Zunino now has 6 homeruns this spring, good for second in the Cactus League. Jeremy Affeldt walked Ackley, and Willie Bloomquist made the veteran southpaw pay. Bloomquist laced an RBI double into the left-center field gap to give the M’s an 8-4 lead heading to the 7th inning.

The Giants showed why they are the reigning World Series Champs in the top of the 9th inning. Erasmo Ramirez was called on to finish things off for the Mariners, but things did not go according to plan. Justin Maxwell led off the final frame with a single to left field. Andrew Susac made it back-to-back singles to open the inning by lining a 2-0 offering into center field. Brett Jackson doubled home Maxwell on a line drive to right field. Juan Ciriaco singled on a groundball to plate Susac and shrink the M’s lead to 2. Things went from bad to worse when Kelby Tomlinson tied the game on a triple to center field. Tomlinson’s triple chased Ramirez from the game. Mark Lowe came on, and immediately struck out Jackson Williams for the second out in the 9th inning. Tomlinson sprinted home from third on a wild pitch to score the winning run.

Hunter Strickland shut the door on the Mariners in the bottom of the 9th inning for the save. It was a painful loss for Seattle, but at the end of the day, the starters played well and the loss is not important.

The full box score can be found here.

Next: Command Problems Plague Kuma

Mar 28, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher

Hisashi Iwakuma

(18) on the mound during a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Hisashi Iwakuma pitched very well for 3 innings on Saturday, and he pitched very poorly for 2. Iwakuma allowed 4 runs on 5 hits across 5 innings today in Peoria. Kuma struck out 4 and walked 2. The veteran right-handed was uncharacteristically wild today, and his lack of command cost him dearly. He had trouble locating his pitches early in counts. Obviously, Iwakuma will look to improve on today’s performance going forward.

The Tokyo product has been one of the best pitchers in baseball since his debut in 2011, but injuries and fatigue combined to hurt his numbers in 2014. Iwakuma struggled down the stretch, posting a 7.88 ERA across his final 32.0 innings. The Mariners are banking a return to his 2013 form. The 33-year-old represented the M’s at the All Star Game in 2013 after going 14-6 with a 2.66 ERA across 33 outings.

Kuma will begin the season as the Mariners’ number 2 pitcher, and with the talented team behind him, he could easily produce a career year in 2015.

Next: Mike Zunino is Unstoppable Right Now

Mar 24, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino (3) reacts after missing a pitch during a spring training game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Zunino led the way offensively for the Mariners on Saturday afternoon in Peoria. Zunino went 2 for 3 with a pair of homeruns and 2 RBI’s. Zunino also scored 2 runs. Zunino has made a few mechanical changes to his swing this winter, and thus far the results speak for themselves. If he can keep hitting the ball the way he is in Arizona, the Mariners lineup will be a nightmare for opposing pitchers in 2015.

Mike Zunino has arguably been the most dangerous hitter in baseball this spring. After today’s impressive showing, Zunino is hitting .310 with 6 home runs and 10 RBI’s across 42 at bats. Zunino clubbed 22 homeruns in his first full season with the Mariners in 2014, but he hit just .199. 30 home runs is not out of the question for the Mariners backstop in 2015, and he has a great chance to be an All Star this season.

Next: Erasmo Ramirez Seals his own Fate

Mar 18, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Erasmo Ramirez (50) pitches against the Oakland Athletics at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Erasmo Ramirez showed once again on Saturday afternoon that he has no business being on the Mariners’ roster. Ramirez entered today’s game in the 7th inning with a comfortable 4 run lead. The 24-year-old right-hander surrendered 5 runs on 6 hits across 2.1 innings pitched. He gave up hit after hit in the 9th inning to blow the game for Seattle.

Ramirez had a chance to be the 5th starter in the Mariners’ starting rotation when spring training began, but he has squandered his opportunities. Ramirez is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA across 13.0 innings. He has looked shaky all spring, and appears likely to be cut in the coming days. He is out of minor league options, and if the Mariners pull the trigger, he would have to be passed through waivers. Swapping Ramirez for cash or a player to be named later may be the best course of action for Jack Zduriencik at this point.

Next: Looking Ahead

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 Seattle Mariners will take on the San Diego Padres Sunday afternoon in Peoria. The M’s are listed as the away team against their Peoria Sports Complex roommates. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PST. J.A. Happ (1-2, 7.27 ERA) will be on the hill for the Mariners, and Andrew Cashner (2-0, 3.00 ERA) will get the ball for the Padres. Sunday’s game will be televised locally on Root Sports, and MLB.tv subscribers can watch on connected devices.

Next: Seattle Mariners Game Recap: Royals Trounce M’s Again

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