Seattle Mariners Game Recap: J.A. Happ Gets Roughed Up Again

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

Matt Kemp

(27) runs to first during a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres overhauled their roster this winter, and many of the new additions played key roles in today’s victory. J.A. Happ (1-3, 7.90 ERA) was awful on Sunday afternoon in Peoria for the Mariners, and suffered his 3^rd loss of the spring. Andrew Cashner (3-0, 2.45 ERA) notched his 3^rd victory of spring training, and his 2^nd consecutive against the Mariners. Dale Thayer came on in the 9^th inning to record the save.

The Padres jumped all over Happ in the 1^st inning of today’s game. Wil Myers sent the first pitch of the game over the fence in left-center field to give the Padres a quick 1-0 lead. Happ got Yangervis Solarte to fly out, but Matt Kemp clubbed a solo home run off the batters eye in center field. Following a pair of singles from Justin Upton and Derek Norris, Jedd Gyorko made it 3-0 by singling to right field.

The Padres tacked on 2 more runs to their lead in the bottom of the 3^rd inning. Justin Upton led off the frame by doubling on a line drive to left field. Will Middlebrooks worked a 6-pitch walk to give the Padres runners on first and second with none out. Upton hustled around from second base to score on a Derek Norris single to center field. Jedd Gyorko added another RBI to his tally when Middlebrooks scored on his bloop single to right field.

Jabari Henry was a last second add to the Mariners’ lineup, and he came through in a big way this afternoon. Henry led off the top of the 4^th inning by tattooing an Andrew Cashner fastball deep to left field. Henry hit 30 home runs last season for the High Desert Mavericks in 2014, and he showed some big league pop today. The Mariners trailed 5-1 heading to the bottom of the 4^th inning.

San Diego’s bats were difficult to contain on Sunday, and they extended their lead back to 5 runs in the bottom of the 4^th. Cameron Maybin dropped a looper in front of Jabari Henry in right field. Henry misplayed the ball, and Maybin made it all the way to third base on what should have been a single. Matt Kemp hit an RBI groundout to first base to give the Padres a 6-1 lead after 4.

The Mariners did not give up on Sunday afternoon in Peoria, and they plated 3 runs in the 7^th inning to shrink the Padres lead to just 2. After a Rickie Weeks groundout, Logan Morrison showed great patience working a 6-pitch walk. Then, Dustin Ackley and his glorious beard connected on a 2 run dinger to left-center field.

The M’s were not finished in the top of the 7^th. Mike Zunino singled, and Rayder Ascenio walked to give the Mariners runners on first and second with one out. Jabari Henry made it 6-4 after singling to center field.

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The Mariners made it a 1 run game in the top of the 8^th inning. Patrick Brady led off the inning with a walk, and stole second base to put himself in scoring position. The man with the best name in baseball, Burt Reynolds plated Brady on a 2 out triple to center field. The score was 6-5 heading to the bottom of the 8^th inning.

Unfortunately, this was as close as Seattle could get on Sunday afternoon. Speedster Trea Turner reached base on a throwing error by shortstop Rayder Ascenio to open the Padres’ 8^th. Tyson Gillies doubled on a weak hit to right field to put runners on second and third with 1 out. Turner scored on a Tommy Medica ground out, and Gillies came across to score on a Cory Spangenberg single. The Padres took a commanding 8-5 lead into the 9^th inning.

The full box score can be found here.

Next: J.A. Happ Disappoints Again