Hank Conger went 3-for-3 with a double and a home run as the Los Angeles Angels jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but the Mariners rallied for a 9-8 walk-off, Cactus League victory Monday at the Peoria Sports Complex when outfielder Julio Morban singled in infielder Francisco Martinez.
Conger drilled a three-run home run off Seattle starter Jeremy Bonderman in the first inning, spoiling Bonderman’s first major league appearance since 2010 with the Detroit Tigers. Bonderman, 30, is attempting a comeback from shoulder and elbow injuries that plagued his final years in Detroit. He allowed three runs on two hits and a walk, throwing 17 pitches in his sole inning.
“It wasn’t the way I wanted it to go, but it was good to get out there and get my feet wet again,” said Bonderman. “I got a little sped up and then hung a breaking ball, plain and simple. I didn’t execute. But it was good to get that first one out of the way.”
Seattle first baseman Justin Smoak went 2-for-2 with a double and is now 3-for-5 with a home run in two spring training starts.
RHP Brandon Maurer, last year’s Southern League Pitcher of the Year for Seattle’s AA Jackson affiliate, tossed a scoreless second inning in his Mariners debut, while Andrew Carraway followed with two innings of one-run ball.
Four players had multi-hit games as Seattle banged out 14 hits. Morban, Smoak, Mike Jacobs and Fran Martinez each went 2-for-2.
Hisashi Iwakuma will make his first start of the spring Tuesday as the Mariners face the Milwaukee Brewers in a 12:05 PT start in Phoenix.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2146869 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2146869">1 Comment
SSS and I know it’s spring but they are putting up a lot of runs and a 9-8 comeback win is so not the 2011 and 2012 seasons.