Seattle Mariners Game Recap: M’s Can’t Overcome Mental Miscues

Apr 15, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher J.P. Howell, center fielder Joc Pederson and catcher Yasani Grandal celebrate after defeating the Seattle Mariners 5-2 at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers (6-3) completed the 3-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners (3-6) Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Brett Anderson (1-0, 3.27 ERA) was not overly dominant, but he managed to pick up his first victory in a Dodgers’ uniform. Taijuan Walker (0-2, 17.18 ERA) had his second consecutive rough outing, and suffered his second consecutive defeat.

Tai Walker once again had trouble getting through the first inning in his second outing of the season. Yasmani Grandal followed a Jimmy Rollins strikeout by singling on a ground ball to center field. Walker got Adrian Gonzalez to fly out, but issued a 2-out walk to Howie Kendrick to keep the inning alive. Andre Ethier may be the best 4th outfielder in baseball, and he delivered an RBI single to left field to get the Dodgers on the scoreboard. Scott Van Slyke crushed a fastball that careened off the wall in left field for a 2 run double. All told, Los Angeles had a 3-0 lead after 1.

Los Angeles added to their lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Joc Pederson led things off for the Dodgers by working a leadoff walk. Brett Anderson struck out, but Rollins and Grandal both walked to load the bases. Adrian Gonzalez has been incredible this season, and he delivered an RBI single to extend the Dodgers lead to 4-0 after 2 innings.

The Dodgers made it 3 consecutive innings with a run scored in the bottom of the 3rd. Tai Walker’s trouble with command continued, as he plunked Ethier to open the inning. Juan Uribe singled on a line drive to center field to put runners on first and second with 1 out. Joc Pederson had himself an impressive night in the field, and he contributed an RBI single to make it 5-0 Dodgers after 3.

The Mariners made a small dent into the Dodgers commanding lead in the top of the 4th inning. Nelson Cruz entered tonight with 5 home runs in his last 4 games, and tonight he made it 6 homers in 5 games. The M’s right fielder went opposite field for a solo home run to make the score 5-1. Cruz is just the second player to hit home runs in 5 consecutive games during his first 10 games with a new team.

More from Mariners News

• 2023 Steamer Projections: Teoscar Hernandez could see a drop in Seattle
• Steamer Projections: Julio Rodriguez to enter rarified air in 2023
• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB
• Baking the Cake: An Adjusted Mariners Offseason Plan

Seattle inched a little bit closer in the top of the 6th inning. Austin Jackson reached on a fielding error by Gonzo to open the frame. Robinson Cano sliced a single to left field, and Nelson Cruz walked to load the bases. Kyle Seager grounded into a fielders choice at first base, but Jackson came across to score. Seager’s RBI shrunk the Dodgers lead to 3 runs. With runners on second and third, Logan Morrison worked a 1-out walk. Unfortunately, Cano inexplicably thought the bases were loaded, and thus began walking towards home. He did not realize his mistake until it was too late, and he was tagged out.

The M’s were unable to close the gap, and the Dodgers won on Jackie Robinson Day (which is probably the way it should be.) Seattle made far too many mental mistakes to win tonight, and Los Angeles proved to be the better team this week.

Click here for the full box score.

Next: Tai Walker Looked Overmatched Tonight