The Mariners opened Cactus League play Thursday with a 7-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in front of 4,868 fans at Peoria (AZ.) Stadium. Seattle jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and scored three times in the sixth en route to the lopsided win. Robinson Cano, signed away from the New York Yankees for $240 million over 10 years, had a single on the first pitch he saw as a Mariner, and a walk.
After Kyle Seager reached in the first on a fielder’s choice, Cano singled to put runners on first and third, and Logan Morrison plated the first run with a sacrifice fly. Cano scored from first on a double by Justin Smoak. In the second, Dustin Ackley led off with a double and eventually scored on Mike Zunino’s sacrifice fly to center.
Seattle extended its lead with a three-run sixth inning, scoring two unearned runs on a rally that included hits by Morrison, Xavier Avery, Humberto Quintero and Cole Gillespie to go along with two Padres errors. Seattle tallied its final run in the seventh as Carlos Triunfel singled to start the frame and scored after the left fielder bobbled a double down the left field line by Burt Reynolds.
Seattle pitching stifled the Padres offense by keeping them scoreless through the first seven frames as Erasmo Ramirez (2.0 IP), Blake Beavan (2.0), Logan Kensing (1.0), Lucas Luetge (1.0) and Tom Wilhelmsen (1.0) each posted scoreless outings while allowing just four hits.
Danny Farquhar closed out with a scoreless ninth.
The Mariners play Friday at 12:05 PT/1:05 MT at Peoria Stadium. The game will be broadcast in the Seattle area on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners Radio Network. Left-handed pitcher James Paxton will start against Padres RHP Andrew Cashner.
