Another game, another home run for Kendrys Morales. For the the third game in row, the Mariners newcomer had a dinger, helping Seattle to its sixth consecutive win, 6-3 over Bary Zito and the San Francisco Giants, before a near-sellout of 11,188 for a night game in Peoria Tuesday.His fifth of the spring was an opposite-field solo off Shane Loux in the seventh inning that bumped his batting average to .366 with 11 runs and 10 RBI in 13 Cactus League games.
The Mariners’ 17-7 record ties the Kansas City Royals (17-6-1) for most spring training wins.
Rookie starter Brandon Maurer continued to impress with three hits and one run allowed in five innings. He struck out four. Tom Wilhelmsen (1-1) earned the win despite allowing two runs, and Kameron Loe recorded his first save with a scoreless ninth inning.
After Zito struck out the first five consecutive batters, Brad Miller was hit by a pitch, stole second base and scored on a two-out single to left field by Nick Franklin.
Trailing 3-2 in the sixth, the Mariners took the lead for good with a pair of runs from sacrifice flies by Miller and Franklin.
Franklin, Kyle Seager and Michael Saunders had two hits.
NOTES— The Mariners are off Wednesday and play another night game Thursday against the Chicago Cubs at 7:05 p.m. at Peoria Stadium. The game will be televised on ROOT Sports and on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners Radio Network . . . Veteran right-hander Jon Garland is scheduled to make his fourth spring start against right-hander Jeff Samardzija . . . After the game the club optioned to Tacoma OF Eric Thames to AAA Tacoma and re-assigned to the minor league camp C Mike Zunino and RHP Logan Bawcom. The Mariners have 37 in the major league camp.