Mariners Make It Two and Zero

The Mariners have now played two games against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Arizona. Both teams share the training site so the Padres were the home team in game 1 while the Mariners were in game 2.

The Mariners have made thirteen their lucky number so far winning both games scoring thirteen runs while Padres scored three in game 1 and two in game 2.

The Mariners managing staff for the second year say the team must control the batting zone on both ends in pitching and hitting and so far have done it. In game two the Padres pitchers had a hard time getting the ball over the plate so the Mariners walked fourteen times along with eleven hits. In the meantime the Mariner pitchers were able to keep the ball in the batting zone themselves. The Mariner pitchers did not walk a batter though they only struck out four while yielding eight hits. Out of those hits five were given up by Christian Bergman and the two runs in the fifth and sixth inning. Bergman is expected to start the season with Tacoma. He did pitch the last three years with the Colorado Rockies. He was used both starting and relieving.

Chris Heston who started the game and pitched two innings gave up one hit and struck out a better to. In the first inning he got the first three batters out on six pitches. Likely will start the season with Tacoma but won’t be surprised at some point he will start at least one game for the Mariners.

Nelson Cruz started the scoring once again for the Mariners leading off the second inning. He got a single in his only other appearance in the game. It looks like Cruz is all ready for the season. He isn’t in the starting lineup for Monday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.

Jarrod Dyson will be leading off against his former team the Royals on Monday. He looks like not only he is ready to get on and steal bases he is good in the Mariners locker room too. He has a personality that shines and loud. Other regular starters for the Mariners against the Royals will be Segura batting second again at shortstop followed by Kyle Seager at third base. Neither Cruz nor Cano will be in this game so Valencia will be starting at first base and be hitting fourth. He will be followed by Mitch Haniger in right field and catcher Mike Zunino both making their second starts of the spring. Utility player Taylor Motter will follow playing second base than minor league catcher Tyler Marlette will be designated hitter and Leonys Martin will be ninth and playing center field.

Yovani Gallardo who the Mariners traded for with the Baltimore Orioles will make his spring training debut. He is expected to be the Mariners fifth starter. He had a poor season last year after signing as a free agent with the Orioles. The Mariners are hoping that he can pitch close to what he did for the Texas Rangers in 2015. He had a 13-11 record that year with an era of 3.42 starting thirty-three games. Early in his career he was known as a strikeout pitcher. He averaged more than one strike out per inning but now he hasn’t. The Mariners will be thankful if he can start around thirty games.

The Mariners will have three pitchers also going for them Monday against the Royals who are expected to be in their bullpen. Left handed specialist Marc Rzepczynski, hard thrower Dan Altavilla who made his major league and Mariner debut in August and Nick Vincent who the Mariners picked up at the end of last spring training. Jonathan Aro and Rob Whalen both expected to pitch for Tacoma will pitch as well. So we will see if the Mariner pitching continues in the control zone on Monday. The game again will be broadcasted on the Mariner radio network. Go M’s.