Unable to stop the scoring onslaught that has propped the two teams the past two days, the Mariners and Padres found a way to end the offensive carnage today. They ran out of pitching.
OK, a 6-6 tie isn’t exactly a free-flow of scoring, but after Sunday’s 13-12 Mariners victory in
10 innings, nine innings were enough today. Another inning and they’d have needed someone from the stands (by the way, 2,119 was the announced attendance).
With 33 pitchers in camp, how is it possible the Mariners ran out of pitching? They’ve used 14 the past two days and everyone’s workload is fairly puny at this point as they build arm strength, that’s how.
“We played extra innings yesterday, so nine was enough today with the pitching,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said.
And besides, it keeps the Mariners undefeated. They’re 1-0-1 against the Padres, with their only remaining exhibition on March 20. If the Padres win that one, then the big natural rivalry will have to be settled in the regular season when they play each other six times.
Some highlights from today’s game:
• The young outfielders in camp continue to impress with the bat. One day after Carlos Peguero’s ninth-inning home run tied the game, Greg Halman and Johermyn Chavez homered today.
Chavez’s blast, to left-center field in the ninth inning, had that “heavy” sound you associate with power hitters. It’ll be interesting to see how he follows up the next month. He hit 32 home runs last year at Class A High Desert and the Mariners are extremely high on him offensively and defensively.
• The Mariners’ pitchers … well … got in their work.
Starter Doug Fister struggled with his release point early, leaving pitches up in the zone and getting hit when the Padres scored twice on three hits in the first inning. Then he got the ball down and retired the final five hitters he faced.
Right-hander David Pauley was the only pitcher not to allow a run, working the third and fourth innings and giving up two hits. Brandon League, Chris Ray and Garrett Olson each pitched an inning and allowed a run, and Chris Seddon gave up the tying run in the ninth after he worked a perfect eighth.
What to make of the pitching the past two days? It’s way too early to get too excited or concerned. As long as they’re around the plate and remaining healthy, that’s the most important part at this time.
• After the game, manager Eric Wedge said the team still doesn’t have final test results on center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, who continues to experience stomach problems. Gutierrez will play Tuesday against the Rangers. “They’re still gathering information and doing their thing,” Wedge said. “But obviously he’s OK. He’s in there tomorrow.”
• Left-hander Nate Robertson will start Tuesday for the Mariners against the Rangers, with right-handers Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke, Dan Cortes and Tom Wilhelmsen, and left-hander Royce Ring also on their pitching list. The Rangers will start left-hander Matt Harrison and follow him with a couple of ex-Mariners, left-hander Arthur Rhodes and right-hander Brett Tomko.
• Wedge said Felix Hernandez and Jason Vargas, both being eased along early at spring training to lessen their workload, will pitch simulated games later this week.
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