MESA, Ariz. – The Mariners scored 6 runs in the top of the 3rd and held off the Athletics with 5.0 innings of scoreless relief in a 6-2 win over Oakland before a crowd of 8,143 on Thursday night at Hohokam Stadium. Taylor Motter went 2-for-4 with 1 run, 1 double, 1 home run and 4 RBI. Motter’s grand slam was the key hit in the Mariners 6-run 3rd inning.
Oakland got on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd on a two-out double.
The Mariners responded with 6 runs in the top of the 3rd. The first two batters reached base safely as Evan White and Braden Bishop hit back-to-back singles. With Mitch Haniger at the plate, Bishop scored on a wild pitch to even the score at 1-1. After Haniger walked, Junior Lake drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Mike Ford followed with another free pass to force home a run. Motter delivered the big hit in the inning, belting a grand slam home run to left field to give the Mariners a 6-1 lead. Motter is now 7-for-12 (.583) with 2 runs, 1 double, 1 home run and 6 RBI over his last 3 games.
The Athletics added a run in the bottom of the 4th on a RBI-double but were kept off the board by the Mariners bullpen over the final 5 innings.
Making his 4th start of the spring, Aríel Miranda allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4 over 4.0 innings pitched. Mike Morin worked around 2 hits to keep the Athletics off the board in the bottom of the 5th inning. Nick Vincent retired the side in order in the 6th inning. Since making his 2018 Cactus League debut on March 12, Vincent has retired all 6 batters he has faced, including 3 via strikeout. Edwin Díaz recorded an immaculate inning, striking out the side in the 7th on 9 pitches. He has now retired each of the last 12 batters he has faced over his last 4 outings (3/4-c), including 6 on strikeouts. Ryan Cook allowed 2 hits in the 9th but closed the door on the Athletics with a scoreless frame.
The Mariners (8-12-1) return to Cactus League action tomorrow (Friday, March 16) against the Texas Rangers at 1:05 p.m. at Surprise Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on Mariners.com. It will also be aired on a delayed basis on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners Radio Network beginning at 7:00 pm PT. Right-hander Mike Leake is slated to start for the Mariners against Rangers left-hander Matt Moore.
Courtesy of the Seattle Mariners.
