Mariners Game Recap: M’s Power Past Padres in Opener

May 12, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino (3) is greeted by first baseman Logan Morrison (20) after hitting a two-run homer against the San Diego Padres during the seventh inning at Safeco Field. Morrison scored on the play. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Mariners (15-17) took it to the San Diego Padres (17-17) on Tuesday night, winning 11-4 in the series opener. The M’s combined to hit 6 home runs on the night, and the outcome was never in doubt. James Paxton (1-2, 4.31 ERA) notched his first victory of the season Tuesday for Seattle. Ian Kennedy (2-2, 5.92 ERA) was hit hard all night, and was credited with the loss for San Diego.

The Mariners exploded for 4 runs in the home half of the 1st inning. Brad Miller got the M’s going by crushing a ground-rule double that just stayed fair down the right field line. Robinson Cano plated Miller on an RBI single to center field. Nelson Cruz worked a walk to give Seattle runners on first and second with only 1 out. Kyle Seager broke out of his rut in a big way tonight, clubbing a 3-run home run over the wall in right field. Seager’s blast gave the M’s an early 4-0 lead.

Seattle added to their lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Logan Morrison may be the hottest hitter in baseball over his last 10 games, and he slugged yet another home run tonight. LoMo’s dinger was of the solo variety, and made it a 5-0 ballgame after 3 innings.

The M’s extended their lead again in the bottom of the 6th inning. Mike Zunino led off the frame by depositing a Shawn Kelley slider into “The ‘Pen” out in center field. Chris Taylor and Seth Smith followed Zunino’s solo shot with singles, and Seattle had runners on first and second with none out. After the next 2 Mariners’ hitters were retired, Nelson Cruz scored Taylor on a single to center field. Cruz’s 2-out RBI gave the M’s a 7-0 lead.

May 12, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Dustin Ackley (13) is greeted by second baseman Robinson Cano (22) after making a diving catch against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego fought back to make it interesting in the top of the 7th inning. Clint Barmes singled, and Abraham Almonte and Derek Norris walked to load the bases with 1 out. Matt Kemp hit a bouncer to Chris Taylor at shortstop. Kemp’s grounder had a chance to be an inning ending double play, but Taylor booted it and then threw wide of first base. Everybody was safe, and Barmes came across to score. Tom Wilhelmsen struck out Justin Upton, but Yangervis Solarte hit a soft line drive that landed in front of Justin Ruggiano in center field. Almonte and Norris scored on Solarte’s single, and the Padres shrunk the M’s lead to 4.

The Mariners quickly jumped back out in front by 7 runs in the home half of the 7th. Logan Morrison reached with a leadoff single, and Dustin Ackley lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move LoMo into scoring position. Mike Zunino was huge for Seattle on Tuesday, and he hit his second home run of the night in the 7th. Following a Chris Taylor fly out, Justin Ruggiano connected on his first round tripper in a Mariners’ uniform. Ruggiano’s dinger made it a 10-3 ballgame heading to the 8th inning.

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