Mariners 7, Dodgers 6: Cishek wobbles through ninth but holds on
PEORIA, Ariz. — It got wild at the end Saturday, which wasn’t a good thing since the Mariners had their closer on the mound, but Steve Cishek stranded the tying and go-ahead runs in a 7-6 victory over the Dodgers.
"We got Cishek’s (number of) pitches up," manager Scott Servais deadpanned, "so that was a good thing."
Cishek inherited a 7-4 lead but began the ninth inning by allowing a walk, an RBI triple, an RBI single and another single. That resulted in two runs and put runners at first and second with no outs.
But Jimmy Allen popped out on a sacrifice bunt before Cishek struck out the next two hitters in closing out the victory.
"Cishek got a few balls up," Servais said, "but to his credit, he made pitches as the end. He executed, which is good to see.
"That’s going to happen during the season. When you give up a couple or you’re not quiet as sharp, but you figure out a way to get through it. That’s what he did today. That as a good sign for me."
Before the hectic ending, the Mariners (13-12-2) overcame two early deficits behind a 12-hit attack. Kyle Seager had three hits, including a two-run double in the seventh inning that broke a 4-4 tie.
Lefty Wade Miley recovered from LA’s two-run first inning by allowing just one additional run in working through the sixth. He gave up eight hits but just one walk and struck out five in a 89-pitch outing.
"I tried to treat that one like a (regular-season) game," he said. "Let’s go out and compete. Try to win a ballgame. It’s the last long one before the (regular) season."
The Mariners erase a 2-0 deficit in the first against Dodgers lefty Scott Kazmir after Ketel Marte led off with a double, and Seager followed with a triple.
They trailed 3-2 when Marte tied in with an inside-the-park homer in the fifth. He sent a drive to deep center that Trayce Thompson couldn’t handle. When Thompson tumbled to the ground, Marte circled the bases.
The Mariners took a 4-3 lead in the sixth in Seth Smith’s leadoff homer, but the Dodgers (11-11-3) tied it in the seventh when Jacob Scavuzzo led off with a homer against Tony Zych.
PLAY OF THE GAME: None were eye-popping, but the Mariners turned three double plays behind Wade Miley over the first five innings.
PLUS: Seth Smith continued his hot spring with a single and a homer in three at-bats. He is batting .559 (19-for-34)…Ketel Marte had a double and an inside-the-park homer in three at-bats…lefty reliever Mike Montgomery bounced back from shaky outing Thursday by working a one-two-three eighth inning on nine pitches.
MINUS: Chris Taylor was hitless in three at-bats with two strikeouts. His average is down to .190 (8-for-42) with 12 strikeouts…The Mariners were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
STAT PACK: Hisashi Iwakuma dropped down to a minor-league game and gave up five runs (two earned) and six hits in six innings. He also stuck out six and walked none in an 81-pitch outing.
"I got up six times and reached my pitch count," Iwakuma said. "That’s what I had in mind more than anything today."
QUOTABLE: Mariners starter Wade Miley gave three singles to Scott Van Slyke (in three at-bats) and considered it a plus.
"It’s been a long ongoing process," Miley said. "That was actually a good day against Van Slyke. Three singles? That’s a good day against Van Slyke. I broke some bats.
"He only got three hits, and I was able to get double plays afterward. I’m happy."
Van Slyke is 8-for-18 in his career against Miley with three doubles and five homers. Throw in three walks in 21 plate appearances, and it amounts to a .444/.524/1.444 slash.
So, yes, three singles…a good day.
SHORT HOPS: The Mariners used the designated hitter, but the Dodgers chose to let their pitchers bat…The attendance of 10,664 marked the fifth crowd of 10,000 or more in the Mariners’ 16 games at Peoria Stadium. They have three more home games.
UP NEXT: The Mariners make their one trip this spring to Sloan Park for a 1:05 p.m. game Sunday against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa.
Lefty James Paxton is slotted for six innings in his sixth spring start as he seeks to beat out right-hander Nathan Karns for the fifth spot in the rotation. The Cubs list right-hander Jason Hammel as their starter.
The game won’t be carried by Root Sports Northwest but can be seen on the MLB.tv subscription service.
Bob Dutton: @TNT_Mariners
This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Mariners 7, Dodgers 6: Cishek wobbles through ninth but holds on."