PEORIA, Ariz. – The Mariners scored a run in the bottom of the 9th inning to force a 3-3 tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers before a crowd of 7,602 on Wednesday afternoon at Peoria Stadium.
Guillermo Heredia began the bottom of the 9th with a single to right field and scored the equalizing run on Ryan Casteel’s double to the base of the wall in left-center field. Pinch-runner Anthony Jimenez advanced to 3rd base with two outs, but the Mariners were unable to push across the go-ahead run. Casteel, a minor league infielder, has 5 RBI in 10 games with the Mariners this spring.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning as Hisashi Iwakuma allowed a two-out, bases loaded single to left field, but Jarrod Dyson threw out the runner from 2nd base trying to score to end the frame. Jean Segura led off the bottom of the 1st with a walk and later scored on a two-out double by Nelson Cruz. The Mariners plated their second run of the frame on an RBI-single from Kyle Seager. Los Angeles added another run in the 2nd to tie the score at 2-2 as a leadoff walk came around to score on a two-out single to left field.
In his 6th and final start of the spring, Iwakuma allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks over 1.2 innings pitched. Dan Altavilla stranded two baserunners in the 2nd, striking out the only batter he faced. Dylan Unsworth dealt 5.0 scoreless innings, scattering 3 hits and striking out 3. Unsworth allowed a base runner in each of his five frames, but pitched out of trouble each time. He has recorded 4 scoreless outings this spring, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out 14 in 12.0 innings pitched. Emilio Pagan came on in relief in the top of the 8th, giving up a single to the first batter he faced and a two-out double to give the Dodgers a 3-2 lead. Dean Kiekhefer got two flyball outs to end the top of the 9th.
The Mariners (19-14-1) have the final of three off days this spring tomorrow. Seattle returns to Cactus League play to face the Colorado Rockies on Friday (March 31) at 6:40 p.m. at Peoria Stadium.
(Seattle Mariners)
