PEORIA, Ariz. — With only four hits in 33 at-bats coming into Thursday’s game, Eric Young’s days in the Colorado Rockies’ major league camp are probably numbered.
Tablesetters hitting .121 don’t win jobs too often.
But the 24-year-old son of former Rockies player Eric Young Sr. felt better Thursday after getting two hits, scoring twice and driving in a run in Colorado’s 9-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.
“People say I’m going to (Colorado Springs) but the only decision that counts is the people in the organization,” Young said. “I’m here to prove I can play and help this team. I want to try to turn some heads and that’s all I’m concentrating on.”
Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs also had two hits each, while Colorado starter Jason Hammel tossed five strong innings as the Rockies knocked out 13 hits against six pitchers.
The Seattle bats, quiet much of the spring, remained so with just four hits over the first eight innings. Eric Byrnes was the only Mariner with two hits. Veteran Mike Sweeney tripled off the right-field wall in the fourth inning and scored on a wild pitch.
Mark Tuiasosopo added an RBI single in the ninth for the Mariners, who have won only five of 15 games. Sweeney is now 13 for 19 for the spring, but his batting average dropped to .684 with a pair of strikeouts.
Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said he’s not concerned as his team’s batting average dropped below .270 in the warm, dry air of Arizona while its ERA is well over five.
“We’re still playing a lot of minor leaguers. On Sunday, you’re going to see a more consistent lineup on the field,” he said. “That’s when I think you get a real feel for the personality and the ability you have. It’s tough right now with guys playing every other day and not getting consistent work.”
Hammel, who has not walked a batter in 14 innings this spring, struck out six and allowed just three hits — dropping his ERA to 1.93. He is slated to be Colorado’s No. 5 starter.
Seattle starter Ryan Rowland-Smith didn’t get out of the third inning, allowing three runs and five hits.
Gonzalez drove in Jonathan Herrera with a single in the third and doubled home Herrera in the fourth. Young doubled and scored on a Spilborghs single in the first and singled and scored in the third. Cole Garner tripled home two runs and scored himself during a four-run Rockies ninth.
NOTES: Gonzalez is hitting .370 for the spring. … The Mariners reduced their roster to 41 players (31 roster, 10 non-roster) by optioning outfield Michael Saunders to Triple-A Tacoma and reassigning pitchers Mike Koplove and Levale Speigner to their minor league camp. … Jason Giambi, who made the trip up to the Valley as a designated hitter for Colorado, was 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. He is hitting .143 this spring. … Seattle completed their January acquisition of 1B Casey Kotchman with Boston on Thursday, sending RHP Miguel Celestino to the Red Sox. Boston had earlier received utility man Bill Hall as part of the deal.
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