Seattle Mariners Game Recap: M’s Rock Rockies

Mar 30, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon (21) looks on against the Los Angeles Angels at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners were in complete control on Friday night, winning 5-4 on a warm spring night in Peoria, AZ. J.A. Happ (2-3, 6.11 ERA) earned the victory for Seattle after producing his best outing as a Mariner. Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.01 ERA) took the loss after lasting just 1.1 innings. Paul Fry slammed the door in the top of the 9^th to pick up his first save of the spring.

The Mariners got the scoring started in the bottom of the 2^nd inning on Friday evening. Logan Morrison and Mike Zunino opened the frame with leadoff walks to give the Mariners runners on first and second with nobody out. Brad Miller scorched a triple down the right field line to plate LoMo and a hustling Zunino. Miller came around to score later in the inning on an Austin Jackson sacrifice fly to center field. The M’s took a 3-0 lead into the top of the 3^rd inning.

Seattle padded their lead in the following inning. All Star third baseman Kyle Seager beat the shift by slicing a line drive down the left field line. Seags sprinted out of the box, and turned his single into a hustle double. LoMo promptly scored Seager on a ground ball that squirted through to center field. The M’s led 4-0 after the first 3 innings.

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The Rockies fought back to make it a 1 run game in the top of the 5^th inning against veteran reliever Tom Wilhelmsen. Colorado had runners on first and second with 2 out when Charlie Blackmon made it 4-1 following a single to center field. Troy Tulowitzki continued the 2 out rally by singling on a ground ball to center field. DJ LeMahieu scored on Tulo’s single, and the M’s lead was trimmed to just 2. Carlos Gonzalez made it three consecutive singles when he drove a ground ball to right field, plating Blackmon, and making the score 4-3.

The Mariners extended their lead to 2 runs in the bottom of the 7^th inning. Gabby Guerrero is the spitting image of his uncle Vladdy, and tonight he showed that he inherited the home run hitting gene. Gabby took a LaTroy Hawkins fastball deep to center field off the batters eye. Gabby’s dinger made the score 5-3 after 7 innings.

Youngster Grady Wood was called on to pitch the top of the 8^th inning for Seattle. Wood retired the first 2 hitters in the inning, but he had trouble recording the final out. Josh Fuentes laced a double to left-center field. Veteran middle infielder Daniel Descalso came through with a 2 out RBI single to bring the Rockies to within 1.

Thankfully, that was all the Rockies could muster on Friday night, and the Mariners took the game by the final score of 5-4.

The full box score can be found here.

Next: J.A. Happ Ends Spring Training on a High Note