PEORIA, Ariz. – Marco Gonzales, Juan Nicasio, James Pazos and David Phelps combined for a 3-hit shutout in a 7-0 win over the Angels before a crowd of 11,364 on Saturday afternoon at Peoria Stadium.
The Mariners scored in three of the first four innings, plating two runs in the 2nd, one in the 3rd and two in the 4th. Mike Zunino belted a two-run home run off the batter’s eye in center field to get Seattle on the board in the 2nd inning. John Andreoli led off the bottom of the 3rd with a walk and advanced to 3rd on Jean Segura’s single to right field. With two outs, Ryon Healy lined a double into the left field corner to score Andreoli. Daniel Vogelbach began the bottom of the 4th with a towering home run onto the berm in right field, his 4th homer of the spring.
Seattle got a pair of insurance runs in the 7th. Braden Bishop manufactured a run by taking a hit by pitch before stealing 2nd base and scoring from 2nd on a passed ball. Two batters later, Kyle Seager connected for a solo home run.
Making his 5th start of the Cactus League season, Marco Gonzales faced the minimum 17 batters over 5.2 innings of work. He allowed a leadoff single in the top of the 3rd but got a double play to work out of trouble. Gonzales walked one and struck out 3 in his outing this afternoon. Juan Nicasio retired the only batter he faced in the 6th inning. James Pazos worked 2.0 innings, allowing just 1 hit while striking out 1. David Phelps struck out 1 in a scoreless 9th inning.
MESA, Ariz. – Shortstop Zach Vincej drilled a bases-clearing triple to drive in 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning, snapping a 1-1 tie and boosting a split-squad group of Mariners to a 4-1 win over Oakland before a crowd of 6,330 on Saturday at Hohokam Stadium.
With one out in the top of the 9th inning, and the score tied 1-1, Vincej lashed a triple to right-center field, driving in three runs.
The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the 4th. Mike Ford led off with a single, and Taylor Motter followed with a double. Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ sacrifice fly drove in Ford. The A’s tied the score at 1-1 with a sacrifice fly of their own in the 8th inning.
Making his 5th appearance (but first start) of the spring, Casey Lawrence worked 4.0 shutout innings, allowing just 2 hits while striking out 4 and not walking a batter. Shawn Armstrong followed with 2.0 shutout innings (1 BB, 1 SO). Minor league extra Anthony Misiewicz allowed just an un-earned run in 2.0 innings (2 BB, 1 SO). Misiewicz (1-0) notched the win, his first of the spring. Art Warren collected his second save of the spring, following a leadoff walk with a strikeout and a double-play induced.
The Mariners (11-12-1) return to Cactus League action tomorrow (Sunday, March 18) to host the Cleveland Indians at 1:10 pm at Peoria Stadium.
