Mariners 8, Rockies 5: Lee shows some pop with three RBIs
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — As spring finales go, the Mariners’ 8-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies had some notable moments Saturday at Salt River Fields.
Nathan Karns stretched out to six innings and, beyond a hiccup in the second, flashed the form the Mariners hope to see. He gave up just three hits, while striking out eight.
First baseman Dae-Ho Lee finally flashed some production with a two-run double, which erased a one-run deficit in the sixth inning, and an RBI single.
Newly-acquired reliever Nick Vincent, in his Mariners debut, pitched around an error in a scoreless ninth inning.
There as some concern, too.
Closer Steve Cishek wobbled through a two-run seventh inning against a lineup comprised primarily of minor-league players, but manager Scott Servias dismissed the outing.
"A nubber off the end of the bat," Servais said. "A ground-ball hit. One ball was squared up, the double that (Ryan) Raburn hit, but Steve’s healthy. He feels good, and he’s going to close."
The Rockies tagged Karns for two runs in the second inning after Nelson Arenado led off with a single, and Gerardo Parra followed with a walk.
Arenado scored later in the inning on Nick Hundley’s sacrifice fly before Ben Paulsen delivered a two-out RBI double. Karns then settled into a rhythm and retired 12 in a row, including six on strikeouts.
"I kind of lost the feel for the secondary stuff in the second inning," Karns said. "I was fastball-heavy. I pitched out of my routine. I like to mix it up a bit.
"But (catchers Chris) Iannetta and (Steve) Clevenger both got me back into great sequences.
The Mariners got one run back in the third after Kyle Seager dew a two-out walk. Robinson Cano followed with an RBI double into the left-center gap.
Lee’s two-run double highlighted a four-run sixth. After the Rockies got one later in the inning, the Mariners struck for three more runs in the seventh. That gave the bullpen an 8-3 lead to protect over nine outs.
Cishek gave up two runs, but Mike Montgomery and Vincent closed out the victory, which enabled the Mariners to finish with a winning spring at 16-14-3.
"A nice way to wrap it up down here," Servais said. "We played a lot of games. I think we’re in a pretty good spot. Everybody is healthy. Got (three) bullpen guys an inning today. We’re ready to roll."
PLAY OF THE GAME: Korean first baseman Dae-Ho Lee didn’t have many notable hits this spring, but his ringing two-run double to left in the sixth inning put the Mariners on top.
PLUS: Spring training is over…Robinson Cano with 1-for-2 with an RBI double and finished the spring at .368 (21-for-57)…catcher Steve Clevenger showed good quickness on Brandon Barnes’ bid of a bunt single in the sixth. Clevenger pounced on the ball and made a strong throw…lefty reliever Mike Montgomery closed the spring with four scoreless one-inning outings.
MINUS: Nelson Cruz went 0-for-2 and finished the spring with a .167 average (9-for-54)…Franklin Gutierrez was 2-for-18 in six games after returning from a week-long absence due to the flu…closer Steve Cishek’s two-run seventh meant he finished the spring by allowing five runs and eight hits in eight innings.
STAT PACK: Ketel Marte ended the spring with a 10-game hitting. He batted .536 in that span (15-for-28).
QUOTABLE: Third baseman Kyle Seager batted second for the ninth time this spring, and manager Scott Servais said he likes Seager in that spot in certain situations.
"Against right-handed pitching, I do," Servais said. "But when you look at it, as you get deep in the game, now it’s (Nori) Aoki, Seager, (Robinson) Cano — left-left-left — which makes it, maybe, a little bit easier to (for opponents to match up).
"I’m really encouraged by Ketel Marte. I thought he had a really nice spring. Certainly against left-handed pitching, I’ll slide him up into the two hole. Against right-handed pitching, we’ll just see how it goes."
SHORT HOPS: Leonys Martin started in center field after returning from Miami, where he attended the birth of his son. He said mother and child were doing well…outfielder Seth Smith remained sidelined by some tightness in his groin. Servais said it isn’t serious: "If it’s a regular-season game, he plays. It is spring training, so let’s get him ready (for the regular season)."…five minor-league players were recently released: INF Martin Peguero, 1B/3B Rob Fonseca, C Pat Jones and RHPs Charles Brewer and David Holman.
PERSONNEL MOVES: The deadline is 9 a.m. Pacific time Sunday for all teams to set their 25-man rosters for opening day.
The Mariners are likely to wait until the deadline to make their moves official, although they effectively set their roster by determining their traveling party to Texas.
Anticipated roster moves: C Rob Brantly placed on waivers; LHP Charlie Furbush and RHP Evan Scribner to the 15-day disabled list; and four players reassigned to minor-league camp: 1B/OF Efren Navarro, OF Daniel Robertson and RHPs Donn Roach and Blake Parker.
LOOKING BACK: It was 23 years ago Sunday — April 3, 1993 — that Edgar Martinez suffered a pulled left hamstring in an exhibition game at BC Place in Vancouver.
The injury limited Martinez, the reigning American League batting champion, to just 42 games in 1993. He finished with a career-low .237 average.
UP NEXT: The Mariners departed for Texas after the game and will work out Sunday at Globe Life Park before opening the regular season at 1:10 p.m. Pacific time Monday against the Rangers.
Right-hander Felix Hernandez (18-9, 3.53 ERA in 2015) will make his eighth straight (and ninth overall) start on opening day. The Rangers plan to start left-hander Cole Hamels (13-8, 3.65 in 2015).
Bob Dutton: @TNT_Mariners
This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 3:32 PM with the headline "Mariners 8, Rockies 5: Lee shows some pop with three RBIs."