Newly acquired outfielder Jason Bay smacked a two-run homer with his first swing of the spring, jump-starting the Mariners’ 8-6 win over the San Diego Padres in front of 5,194 fans at Peoria Stadium Saturday. The victory was Seattle’s (1-1) first of the exhibition season.
Bay’s blast to left was the first of three two-run homers for the Mariners. Justin Smoak (fifth inning) and Mike Jacobs (ninth) also drilled long balls. Seattle built an 8-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth , but a pair of errors helped San Diego score five runs (two earned) to make the final score close.
Seattle scored single runs in the seventh and eighth. Catcher John Hicks was 2-for-2, the only player with multiple hits in Seattle’s 10-hit attack.
Seattle starter Blake Beavan (1-0) picked up the win. He allowed a pair of singles over two innings, striking out one. Kameron Loe (1.0 IP, 2 SO), Taijuan Walker (1.0 IP, 1 H), Danny Hultzen (1.0 IP, 2 SO), Carson Smith (1.0 IP, 1 SO) and Jonathan Arias (1.0 IP) all had scoreless outings.
Hultzen retired three batters, striking out two, on seven pitches, all strikes. Bobby LaFromboise (1.0 IP) was touched for a single run in the sixth inning, and Jhonny Nunez was charged with five runs, two earned, in the ninth.
The Mariners and Padres return to Cactus League play Sunday at 12:05 PT at Peoria Stadium, broadcast in the Seattle area on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners Radio Network.
Right-handed pitcher Erasmo Ramirez is scheduled to start against Padres right-hander and former Mariner Freddy Garcia.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2146808 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2146808">1 Comment
If Bay keeps this up he’s going to cause problems.