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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
1. 62. 3. 126. Final
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.
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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
Apr 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher J.A. Happ (33) throws out a pitch during the first inning during a game against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
J.A. Happ Pitches Well in Loss
J.A. Happ pitched admirably for the M’s on Friday night in his Safeco Field Mariners debut. Happ held the Rangers to 2 runs on 5 hits across 7 innings pitched. The veteran southpaw tallied 3 strikeouts, and walked 2 Rangers. If Happ had received any run support from his teammates this could easily have been his first win in a Mariners’ uniform.
Happ has been a rare pleasant surprise for the M’s thus far in 2015. After struggling mightily in spring training, Happ has contributed a pair of quality starts to open the season. He appears to be an ideal no.5 starter for Seattle. Happ has been getting the job done despite not being overly flashy on the mound.
The 32-year-old will get the ball next against the Houston Astros next Wednesday at Safeco Field. If tonight’s start is any indication, he should flourish at the Safe in 2015.
Next: Nelson Cruz Stays Hot
Apr 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) gets a hit against Texas Rangers pitcher Yovani Gallardo (49) during the seventh inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Nelson Cruz Stays Hot
Nelson Cruz‘s 5-game home run streak came to an end this evening, but he still had a very nice night at the plate. Cruz went 3 for 4, and was the only Mariner who was able to figure out Yovani Gallardo. All 3 of his hits tonight were hard hit balls, and I would not be surprised if he started a new home run streak tomorrow night.
After tonight’s 3 hit performance Cruz raised his season batting average to .342. The 34-year-old outfielder has been red hot lately, and he has gone 12 for 23 with 6 home runs and 9 RBI’s over his last 6 games. Cruz has also started in right field in each of the last 6 games despite originally being expected to be the everyday designated hitter this season.
Cruz is doing everything he can to carry this team right now, but over the last 4 games it has not proven to be enough. The rest of the hitters around Cruz, namely Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager, need to step up and support the M’s cleanup hitter.
Next: LoMo Does Little Things Right in Loss
Apr 17, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Logan Morrison (20) breaks up the double play as Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus (1) holds the ball during the fifth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
LoMo Does the Little Things Right in Loss
Logan Morrison is the spiritual leader of the M’s, and tonight he attempted to wake up the rest of his drowsy teammates. LoMo went just 1 for 4 on the night with a pair of strikeouts, but that does not tell the whole story. Morrison broke up a double play with a hard slide in the bottom of the 5th inning. The M’s had ended the previous 3 innings with double play balls, and LoMo hustled to make sure that the streak did not extent to 4. He played great defense at first base, and had it not been for a great jumping catch by Shin Soo Choo, Morrison may have hit a home run in the bottom of the 9th.
The Mariners do not have the look of a motivated squad right now, but LoMo has consistently played with a competitive edge this season. Apart from a few mental lapses last series in Los Angeles, Morrison has been steady at first base. He is currently hitting just .176, but he has had a pair of home runs stolen in the last week and a half.
Good things will happen for LoMo if he can keep the mindset he had tonight, and in turn good things will happen for the Mariners. Morrison is the emotional leader and has some striking similarities to Jay Buhner, but he needs to start producing the way Buhner did in the mid 90’s.
Next: Looking Ahead
Apr 12, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (34) reacts after loading the bases against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning at O.co Coliseum. The Mariners defeated the Athletics 8-7. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Looking Ahead
The Seattle Mariners (3-7) will look to end their 4-game skid Saturday night at Safeco Field against the Texas Rangers (5-6). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 pm from the corner of Edgar and Dave. Felix Hernandez (1-0, 3.00 ERA) will toe the rubber in front of his loyal subjects in King’s Court. Veteran right-hander Colby Lewis (1-0, 3.38 ERA) will start for the Rangers tomorrow nigh in game 2. Saturday’s game will be televised locally on Root Sports Northwest, and MLB.tv subscribers can watch on connected devices.
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