The Mariners took on the division-rival Los Angeles Angels Saturday night (kind of) and emerged victorious over the Angels’ B-squad hitters.
Rob Whalen made the start for the Mariners, and for the second time on the spring, surpassed expectations. Whalen’s offseason has been something of a redemption story following a debut season with Seattle that was derailed by off-the-field issues, and the effects appear to be manifesting in his on-field performance as well. Through two appearances, he’s now accumulated five innings of work and allowed just four baserunners. He scattered three hits—one of which being a solo home run to projected Angels starting catcher Martin Maldonodo—tonight against LA while walking none and striking out four, bringing him to seven strikeouts on the young spring.
Wheelin' and dealin'. @RobWhalen38 #MarinersST pic.twitter.com/XLqKB8bbP5
— Mariners (@Mariners) March 4, 2018
The M’s remained scoreless until the third when John Andreoli managed to find his way on via walk and was plated on a Jean Segura home run to left on a 3-2 count off of Angels starter Tyler Skaggs.
. @Jeansegura02 pega su segundo HR del #SpringTraining… ¡Tablazo con autoridad!
— Marineros de Seattle (@LosMarineros) March 4, 2018
#LosMarineros
Minuto X Minuto: https://t.co/bWiKZE74qE pic.twitter.com/rjN0D7AHat
Juan Nicasio came out for the fourth inning, and was touched for his first run as a Mariner when Angels’ first base prospect Matt Thaiss connected for a solo home run to pull things even 2-2. After a clean inning by Cam Bedrosian, David Phelps made his Cactus League debut and appeared to be in midseason form, picking up one strikeout on the way to a clean inning. The M’s responded in the bottom half of the fifth when a Dee Gordon triple and Jean Segura walk were followed by Robinson Cano poking a single through the left side of the infield, putting the M’s back on top 3-2.
Not to be outdone by his trade-package-partner, Max Povse came out dealin’ in the sixth, fanning four hitters over two one-hit innings. The 2017 Modesto Nuts gave the Mariners a little cushion in the seventh when Braden Bishop picked up a three-bagger on an opposite field liner and was eventually driven in by Chris Mariscal.
Back-to-back shutout innings from Mariners NRI Johendi Jiminian and former-Angel Mike Morin sealed the 4-2 victory for Seattle.
The Mariners are back in action tomorrow as they take on the Texas Rangers at 12:05pm.