OF Dustin Ackley found himself at the center of the Mariners’ woes with runners in scoring position Wednesday in a 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres at Safeco Field.
It wasn’t all Ackley’s fault.
The Mariners (15-18), who entered 11th in the American League hitting with runners in scoring position (.234 average), finished 1-for-13, leaving 10 on base. That takes a group effort.
Still, Ackley had a batting average south of the Mendoza line, went 1-for-4 and improved to .200. The downside: the former No. 2 overall pick left five on base and three times failed to deliver with men in scoring position, before leading off the ninth with a single against Padres closer Craig Kimbrel.
He came around to score when DH Brad Miller hit a double. Kimbrel then struck out Robinson Cano, the potential tying run, to end the game.
Miller also added a 436-foot home run into The ‘Pen in the fifth inning to cut San Diego’s lead to 2-1. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and a run, lifting his average to .250.
Again, Ackley wasn’t the sole reason the Mariners failed to extend a season-high four-game winning streak. But his inability to come through reinforced the emerging reality that he is the least untouchable player among the club’s regulars. It’s not a coincidence that Miller is frantically learning to play outfield after starting the season at shortstop.
After the game, manager Lloyd McClendon was asked if he would consider playing Miller in the outfield.
“I’m getting close, yeah,” he said.
In the sixth inning, the Mariners were primed to deliver the knockout blow when Ackley came up with one out and runners on first and second, trailing 2-1. Padres starter James Shields (5-0) walked two to begin the inning before striking out Mike Zunino. He was at 112 pitches.
Ackley quickly jumped ahead 2-0, then chased a Shields fastball a few inches off the plate.
The result: A 6-3 double play to prolong Ackley’s tough start to 2015.
“The positive is we got (runners) out there,” McClendon said. “The negative is we couldn’t get them in. That guy on the mound had a lot to do with it, too . . . had him on the brink a few times. Just couldn’t get the big hit today to get us over the hump.”
In the second, Ackley also grounded out after Zunino doubled. But McClendon said he sees progress over the past few games from the North Carolina native, a notorious slow starter, after a recent 20-game stretch when he hit .122 (6-for-49). With Austin Jackson on the disabled list with a sprained right ankle until at least until Tuesday, the Mariners seem like they’ll stick with Ackley for now.
Afterward, Miller didn’t sound ready to move to outfield.
“I have zero experience, but it’s definitely farther out there,” he said of making the switch. “That’s the only thing I do know.
“I’m just trying to stick with (outfield coach) Andy Van Slyke and whatever’s on my plate, take advantage and get it done.”
Wednesday, Ackley started in center field for the sixth time this season. In the sixth, he made a nice running catch at the wall on a deep Justin Upton fly ball, a night after making a sliding catch at the warning track.
“I think his last four or five games have been better, more consistent,” McClendon said of Ackley’s hitting approach. “He got a big base hit tonight for us. He did a nice job.”
But . . .
“Obviously you want more production,” he added. “I don’t think it’s going to come overnight. We got to keep grinding it out with him. But he’s getting better, trending in the right direction.”
So is right-hander Taijuan Walker (1-4), according to McClendon. Walker allowed two runs on four hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six. His ERA dropped to 7.22. He remains winless in six career starts at Safeco Field.
The third inning cost him. Will Middlebrooks started with a towering solo homer. Alexi Amarista then doubled and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Cory Spangenberg to make it 2-0. In the seventh, the Padres tacked on a run when former Mariners CF Abraham Almonte checked in with an RBI single. A wild pitch from Carson Smith scored Spangenberg in the eighth.
The Mariners challenged Shields in the fourth when Nelson Cruz led off with a single. After Kyle Seager hit into a fielder’s choice, Logan Morrison crushed a single back up the middle. Zunino and then Ackley struck out.
Noteworthy
Jackson, on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle, took batting practice and ran Tuesday. He isn’t ready to go out on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma, but the hope is he will this weekend. He is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday. “Just so-so,” McClendon said of Jackson’s workout. “It wasn’t great. The running part was a tick below average. It was his first time out with cleats on, running the bases. So you expect it to be a little stiff. He actually swung the bat OK.”
12 Comments
Who goes when Jackson is done with his rehab assignment?
@docmilo5:disqus …most think it will be Bloomquist. I’d rather see Ruggiano get the heavy ho.
Contract should be no factor. M’s can afford most any move. Question is whether they want to trade a top prospect for a LF.
Ackley should be the odd man out. Or a relief pitcher.
It should be Willie who is gone when Jackson comes off the DL. Miller can spell a couple positions in the infield, and it sounds like they are grooming him to play outfield too.
Miller starts tonight. Drama begins.
Miller should spend a few weeks in Tacoma to learn the outfield. When he returns, Ackley gets sent packing if he doesn’t come around.
MLB is a very high level for training wheels.
Ackley seems to have become a head case. His performance in the game last week where, with the bases loaded and ahead in the count 3-0, he then watched three straight called strikes was truly pathetic. Either the challenge excites you or it scares you. All Ackley was looking for was ball four.
His body deems to work well, but his mind gets in the way. I saw that AB. Embarrassing.
trust jesus (montero) at dh. miller to of. ackley to the dustbin of history.
Mr. Achley needs to shave. Until he shaves he isn’t trying hard enough to be a productive MBL player. If shaving doesn’t work he can grow his hair back starting on top. If this doesn’t work he can raise the length of his pant legs. Come on Dustin what do you got to lose?