The Mariners had to make multiple roster moves (see below) in order to clear room on the major league roster for Kennewick native Jeremy Bonderman. All the flurry got them was a lame 10-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins Sunday at Target Field. Bonderman, making his first start since Oct. 1, 2010, and working on 975 days of rest, just wasn’t up to it, sustaining a seven-run shelling that leaves his future with the club in doubt.
The combination of Bonderman’s ineffectiveness — he allowed three home runs — and anemic hitting throughout the lineup put this one out of reach by the fourth inning. The Mariners fell behind 3-0 in the second inning and watched Minnesota tally two more in each of the fourth, fifth and seventh innings and add a single in the sixth.
The Mariners (24-33) countered with just five hits (two by Kendrys Morales, batting .301), none between the fourth and eighth innings, and none for extra bases. Seattle has been blanked five times this season. Sunday’s throttling was the second-largest margin of defeat in a shutout, following a 12-0 setback to the Angels May 21.
The Twins jumped on Bonderman for three runs in the second, starting with Ryan Doumit’s solo homer to open the frame on an 0-1 count (Doumit hit the walk-off triple Saturday). Bonderman then yielded RBI doubles to Brian Dozier and Aaron Hicks.
Minnesota tacked on two more in the fourth on Chris Herrmann’s solo homer and a sac fly by Pedro Florimon that scored Hicks, who had tripled.
Josh Willingham’s two-run homer an inning later to give Minnesota a 7-0 lead, which ended Bonderman’s day. He worked 4.2 innings, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits with just one strikeout, one walk and a 13.50 ERA.
After manufacturing a run in the sixth, Josh Willingham homered off Hector Noesi to make it 9-0 and Eduardo Escobar’s RBI single plated Hicks to make it 10-0.
The Twins finished with 16 hits, eight for extra bases.
The Mariners start a 10-day, 10-game home stand Monday night. The Chicago White Sox are in first for three. Joe Saunders (3-5, 5.57) goes against LHP John Danks (0-1, 5.40). The Yankees and Astros will follow the White Sox. The Mariners are halfway through a stretch of 20 games in 20 days.
NOTES: The Mariners made a number of moves Sunday to make room for RHP Jeremy Bonderman on the major league roster. They placed 1B Justin Smoak on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 30, designated INF Vinnie Catricala for assignment, and traded minor league outfielder Francisco Martinez to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations or a player to be chosen later. Smoak, whom Eric Wedge hoped to start Sunday, came out of the May 25 game vs. Texas with a right oblique strain. He last appeared in a game as a pinch-hitter May 29 at San Diego. Catricala hit .253 for AA Jackson. The Mariners designated Martinez for assignment May 27 when they called up second baseman Nick Franklin . . . Closer Tom Wilhelmsen got the day off Sunday after suffering his third blown save in four chances Saturday. Wilhelmsen is 12-for-15 in save opportunities . . . Saturday’s walk-off loss was Seattle’s sixth of the season, most in the majors (Miami has five) and the 42nd walk-off loss since 2010. That’s 13 more than any other AL club (Toronto 29). The 2011 Mariners endured 13 walk-off defeats and last year’s club had 11.
