Mariners Fall To Dodgers And Athletics In Split-Squad Ballgames

The Mariners played their first split-squad matches of spring ball today -they play two more, one on March 17th and the other on March 24th. Unfortunately, the M’s fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics 7-3 and 5-4 respectively to move their record to 6-4.

While some of the Mariners were losing to the Athletics in Peoria Stadium in their first televised game, the rest of the squad was being out-played by the Dodgers down the road at Camelback Ranch in Glendale.

The 7-3 loss to the Dodgers spoiled a great start from Andrew Moore who went two innings allowing just one hit and struck out one batter. Edwin Diaz and Dylan Unsworth also combined for two frames of work with no runs given up and striking out one man each.

It was in between Diaz’s trip to the mound and Unsworth’s outing the things fell apart for the Mariners.

From the 4th-7th innings, the Mariners allowed all seven of the runs they gave up today, but only two of them were earned. Three fielding errors and three wild pitches in the span allowed Dodgers runners to reach base and in one case, score.

There were some good signs from the Mariners despite scoring as many runs as errors they committed in today’s game. Kyle Waldrop hit the biggest blast for the M’s; it was a three-run shot that, at the time, put the M’s on top 3-2.

Kyle Waldrop hit the biggest blast for the M’s; it was a three-run shot that, at the time, put the M’s on top 3-2. Tyler Motter and Tyler Smith also added extra-base hits -Smith hit a double and Motter tripled.

Back in Peoria, Felix Hernandez was on the mound for the last time before he’ll head off to play in the World Baseball Classic. He was looking for his second win in as many starts, but his rough beginning got in his way.

Hernandez was pegged for three hits which allowed two runs in the 1st. He would settle down, not allowing another run before he was taken out, and he finished with five punch outs.

But, just like in Glendale, the Mariners couldn’t produce enough offense. Their four runs weren’t enough to overcome the A’s on this day.

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Since the M’s scored seven runs against the Cleveland Indians on March 1st, the team hasn’t scored more than six in any of their games. This comes after the team started spring training scoring 13 runs in back-to-back games versus the San Diego Padres.

Daniel Vogelbach and Boog Powell were exceptions. They each went 2-3. Vogelbach had an RBI-double and Powell had a triple. Also, D.J. Peterson hit his first long bomb into the stands.

In deflating news, flamethrower, Thyago Vieira, struggled mightily with his control allowing three walks, one hit, and one earned run in the 8th to give the Athletics the lead for good and the A’s would win 5-4.

The M’s won’t have much time to regroup as the whole roster -minus the WBC players- will be joining forces again to take on the Texas Rangers for the second time this spring at 12:10 PST tomorrow.

Next: Heredia Will Take An Outfield Spot

The M’s will like to right the ship as the team has lost three of its last four games. A contrast to their 4-1 start to spring ball.