Nice Outing By Gonzales

On Saturday Marco Gonzales had a very good
outing going three innings giving up just one
hit, no walks and two strikeouts.

The Mariners have Tuesday off so it might
mean Gonzales next outing might be on
Friday.

The Mariners were leading 3-0 when Marco
left the game; however, Art Warren had trouble
getting the ball over the plate and an error
by JP Crawford allowed the Kansas City
Royals to score six runs. The Mariners were
able to tie the game scoring a run in the 6th
inning and two more in the seventh. The
Royals though scored two in the 8th and
one more in the 9th with a home run off
Dan Altavilla So the final score was Royals
9 Mariners 6.

I was hoping that Art Warren would pitch
better I am rooting for him to be healthy
and have a good spring. He certainly will
have to do a better job to get a spot in the
rotation.

Yoshihisa Hirano breezed through one
inning for the Mariners without giving
up a hit. Brandon Brennan followed going
an inning as well just giving up one hit.
Both of them are expected to be in the
Mariner bullpen when the season starts.

Back to Dan Altavilla. He has all the talent
to be an outstanding reliever. Health and
getting the ball over the plate consistently
has been his downfall. This year he has to
make the ball club out of spring training
because he is out of options. Other words,
he would be put on waivers if he were sent
to triple-A. Most likely he would be picked
up by another ball club.

In the hitting department catcher Tom Murphy
had two hits including a double. Also, Joe
Odom who came in for Murphy had a hit
driving in two runs. Odom invited into camp
as a non-roster player should start the season
at Tacoma. He spent last year at double-A
Arkansas and Tacoma.

Sunday the Mariners take on the Chicago
Cubs on the road. Kelly Graveman signed
as a free agent during the off-season will
start for the Mariners while Tacoma area
native Jon Lester goes for the Cubs. It
will be a good time for those position
players to face a pitcher like Lester.
Go M's.