SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Mariners slugged their way past the Texas Rangers, 10-7, before a crowd of 6,607 on Sunday afternoon at Surprise Stadium. Mike Ford belted a pinch-hit, three-run home run, Ian Miller drove in 3 runs and the Mariners relief corps combined to allow only 3 hits and 1 walk in 7.1 scoreless innings pitched.
Texas plated the first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the 1st. Delino DeShields led off with a double and scored on an RBI-groundout. The Rangers added 6 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, capped by a three-run home run off the bat of Joey Gallo.
The Mariners answered back with five runs in the top of the 4th to cut the Rangers lead, 7-5. Guillermo Heredia led off with a double and scored after a walk to Daniel Vogelbach and an RBI-single from Junior Lake. Two batters later, Taylor Motter doubled to bring home Vogelbach. Mike Marjama plated a run on a fielder’s choice, and Miller drove in two runs on a single to center field.
Seattle took its first lead of the game in the top of the 6th as Marjama and Braden Bishop combined for back-to-back singles before Miller drove home a run on a sacrifice fly. After Danny Muno singled, Ford belted a pinch-hit, three-run home run – his first of the spring – to right field as the Mariners took a 9-7 lead. The Mariners tacked on a run – their 10th of the afternoon – in the top of the 7th on a sacrifice fly from Joe DeCarlo.
James Paxton worked 1.2 innings and allowed 7 runs on 7 hits and 1 walk. Minor league call-up Bryan Bonnell recorded the final out in the bottom of the 2nd. Edwin Díaz retired the Rangers in order in the 4th, striking out Robinson Chirinos and Jurickson Profar. Andrew Moore tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in relief, scattering 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. Moore earned the win to improve to 1-0. Sam Moll pitched 1.0 scoreless inning. Ryan Cook struck out 1 in a scoreless 8th inning. Ljay Newsome fanned two in a 1-2-3 9th inning to earn his first save of the spring.
The Mariners (5-5-1) have the first of three off days this spring tomorrow (Monday, March 5). On Tuesday (March 6), the Mariners return to Cactus League action to host the Colorado Rockies at 6:40 p.m. MT/5:40 p.m. PT at Peoria Stadium. The game will be broadcast live in the Seattle area on 710 ESPN Seattle and the Mariners Radio Network. The broadcast can also be streamed live on Mariners.com. The game will be televised live in HD on ROOT SPORTS NW. Right-hander Mike Leake is slated to start for the Mariners against Rockies right-hander German Márquez.