Mariners Newbies Best Split-Squad Reds 7-6 For 10th Spring Win

Mariners GM, Jerry Dipoto can smile a little brighter today all because four of the players that he traded for this offseason made a positive impact on today’s 7-6 win against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Mariners have now won three straight spring games since losing big to the Cleveland Indians Wednesday’s game 14-6.

The team also seems to have rebounded from its offensive slump, scoring seven or more runs in four of their last five games. Before this short streak, the M’s had only scored seven or more runs once in six contests.

Today, it was newly acquired Mariners that helped lead the team to its 10th spring win. Four players that were brought to Seattle since the 2016 season came to a close combined to go 7-14 with five RBIs and three runs scored.

The Mariners are only the second team in the Cactus League to reach 10 wins so far this spring. The other are the New York Yankees who lead both leagues with 13 victories as of their W this afternoon.

Just like their last two ballgames against the Chicago Cubs, the Mariner found themselves trailing at some point in the nine innings before ultimately coming out on top of the competition.

In the 3rd inning, down 3-1, Taylor Motter and Mitch Haniger -both of whom were picked up separate trades six days apart from each other back in April- provided RBI knocks to level things up at 3.

In the 4th, Motter and Haniger drove in another run each. Motter by a sac fly and Haniger via a single. Another newcomer, Danny Valencia, also drove in a run that frame with a single of his own.

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It was in those two frames, some of the newest M’s piled on five of the team’s seven runs today

The game would be decided, though, by a player who has been in the lower ranks of minor league ball for a handful of years now, Rayder Ascanio. He single scoring Boog Powell from third to give the Mariners a 7-6 lead.

Speed also played a starring role in today’s game. The M’s had happy feet early on, stealing six bases through four innings, three in the 4th on its own.

Jarrod Dyson led the way when it came to quickness. He stole two bases, legged out two doubles, and used his nimble footwork to adjust to make the out on a flyball that was caught in the swirling winds in left.

Related Story: Will Mariners Be A Top Base-Stealing Team?

Haniger and Motter also added steals this afternoon to pad their impressive stats for the day. For Motter, it was his third stolen base this spring while for Haniger it was his first.

Next: Mariners Have A New Fan Favorite In Haniger

Tomorrow speed should be the main focus of the M’s 1:10 PM PST battle with the Los Angeles Angeles. The Mariners only trail the Angels by one stolen base for the spring lead. The two teams have combined for 43 steals in 29 games.