Takeaway
The Mariners (1-3) continued their sub-par start to the 2015 season Friday night when they were routed 12-0 by the Athletics (box score) in the opener of a three-game series at O.co Coliseum. Using a right-hand-heavy lineup, Seattle had no answer for LHP Drew Pomeranz (two hits, no walks and six strikeouts over seven innings). RHP Taijaun Walker (0-1) was blitzed in his season debut by Oakland’s new-look lineup.
Essential moment
Already trailing 5-0 entering the fourth, the Mariners’ prospect of winning was wiped out when CF Sam Fuld and DH Billy Butler had RBI singles. Later in the inning, 1B Ike Davis drove in two with a bases-loaded double. SS Marcus Semien tacked on two more with a single.
Pitchers
Walker’s first start was a nightmare. The 22-year-old lasted 3.1 innings and had little pitch movement or location. He allowed nine runs, all earned, on nine hits and two walks. He gave up three runs in a 37-pitch first inning, two in the second on a home run by rookie LF Mark Canha — a career first.
Walker went 4-0 with a 0.67 ERA in seven Cactus League starts to win a spot in the rotation.
Hitters
The Mariners never put pressure on Pomeranz or Oakland’s bullpen. Three hits — two singles from CF Austin Jackson and a single from 3B Kyle Seager.
Words
Manager Lloyd McClendon: “If he pitches long enough in this league that’s going to happen again. That’s baseball. We were on the receiving end. We’ll give a few of those this year as well.
“I thought he made great pitches.It was just their night. I thought he threw some good change-ups, some good breaking balls. Early on everything was falling in for them.”
Noteworthy
Mariners RF Seth Smith was unavailable for the third consecutive game because of tightness in his groin. McClendon hinted that Smith will return to the lineup Saturday . . . Smith went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple and a pair of RBIs in Seattle’s Opening Day win over the Angels.
Next
Seattle goes against Oakland ace Sonny Gray (1-0) Saturday at 1:05 p.m.. In his season opener, Gray carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning. He allowed one hit over eight frames in an 8-0 win over the Rangers. The Mariners counter with LHP J.A. Happ in his first start with the club after it sent RF Michael Saunders to the Blue Jays for the veteran.
8 Comments
Maybe they are just getting their annual minimum 8-game losing streak out of the way early this year
You know how a season works. Well said.
Young pitchers get hit hard every once in a while, that I can live with….but the Mariners scored 0 runs on 3 hits. Doesn’t matter if the A’s score 1 run or 12 runs last night, they still win easily…..this is exactly why I didn’t buy into the hype machine this year and that’s why I’m not going back to Safeco again anytime soon. I’ve watched this franchise burn for 14 years straight seasons, and I’m not spending my cash to watch this historically SH** offense once again……yeah, yeah, keep the…..”it’s just 1 game”…….”gotta tip your cap” and all the other apologist comments coming……unfrickinbelievable how some things never change, no matter how much unjustified hype the local and national media heaped on this team.
You’re certainly entitled to your skepticism and your cash. A lot of fans feel as crushed as you do over 13 years. But the presumption of failure for this team this year based on four games is illogical. They lost eight in a row last year in April and wound up winning 87.
One hundred fifty eight opportunities to win!
A funny thing happened on the way to the World Series….this is good. It’ll cool down the guys who are predicting 100 wins (Groz). Walker is not going to win the Cy Young. Zunino is not going to hit .275. Weeks and Cruz look a little shaky. But they’ll be fine. I’m with Vegas on team wins this year. 88. Might get in the second season. Might not. Might come down to Walker and Lo-Mo needing to have solid, full seasons.
My guess is eight guys need to have solid, full seasons.
Are Lincoln and JZ still in place? Yes? Then I will skip ANOTHER season. Ugh.