Mariners Game Recap: Beard Hats the Lone Highlight on Friday Night

Apr 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Dustin Ackley (13) walks back to the dugout after striking out in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners (3-7) dropped their 4th consecutive game on Friday night against the Texas Rangers (5-6) at Safeco Field. Seattle has now dropped 7 of their first 10 games this season, and it is safe to say they are not playing good baseball right now. J.A. Happ (0-1, 2.70 ERA) suffered his first loss as a Mariner, and Yovani Gallardo (2-1, 3.45 ERA) earned the win after dominating for 6 innings. Hard throwing right-hander, Neftali Feliz shut the door on the M’s in the 9th inning to record his 2nd save of the season.

The Texas Rangers jumped on their horses and rushed the Seattle Mariners in the top of the 1st inning. Leonys Martin worked a walk to leadoff the ballgame on Friday night. Prince Fielder entered tonight’s ballgame hitting .400 over his first 10 games this season, and he stayed hot against the Mariners. Fielder sliced an RBI double down the left field line to give the Rangers an early 1-0 lead.

The Rangers doubled their lead in the top of the 5th inning. Robinson Chirinos drew the start tonight behind the plate, and he came through with a solo home run to extend Texas’ lead to 2 runs. Chirinos’ home run cleared the center field fence with ease, and proved to be the game-winning run.

Seattle cut the Rangers’ lead in half in the bottom of the 8th inning. Shortstop Brad Miller led off the frame with a line drive double in the right-center field gap. Austin Jackson lofted a fly ball to right field, and Miller advanced to third base after tagging up. Seth Smith finally got the M’s on the scoreboard, delivering a sacrifice fly to center field. The Mariners trailed 2-1 after 8 innings.

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

Texas added an insurance run in the top of the 9th. Dominic Leone walked Shin Soo Choo to lead off the final inning, but Chirinos hit in a fielders choice. Leone had trouble keeping pitches out of the dirt, and it came back to bite him late in tonight’s game. With Chirinos on first base, Zunino had trouble handing a ball in the dirt. Chirinos broke for second, and Zunino’s throw sailed wide of the base. The ball bounced into center field, and Chirinos ended up on third base. Leone induced a weak pop out from Rougned Odor for the second out, but Adam Rosales singled home Chirinos on a sharp ground ball that trampolined off the bag at third base.

The Mariners could not muster a miracle comeback in the bottom of the 9th, and the Rangers took the opener of the 3-game weekend series by a final score of 3-1.

The full box score can be found here.

Next: J.A. Happ Pitches Well in Loss