The Mariners finished spring training play with a 22-11 record, setting a club record for wins and ranking second in the Majors behind the Kansas City Royals (25-7-2). It was an impressive spring statistically, with the Mariners ranking near the top in several offensive categories, including first in home runs (58), and second in runs scored (214), slugging percentage (.520), extra base hits (142) and OPS (.865).

The Mariners open the 2013 season tomorrow (Monday, April 1) against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum (7:07 pm PT).

Here are some notes on the successful Spring Training:

WINNING WAYS…the Mariners finished their 37th spring in the Cactus League with a 22-11 record, setting a club record for wins…have recorded three consecutive winning springs (16-13-2 in ‘11, 16-9-1 in ‘12)…first three-year streak of winning springs since 1997-99…13th spring overall with a .500 or better record (also: 2012, 2011, 2004, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1994, 1993, 1991, 1989, 1988, 1984)…recorded the second-best best spring winning percentage in club history, trailing only 1994 (21-9/.700)…finished 2nd in the Cactus League standings, 3.5 games behind the Kansas City Royals (25-7-2/.781).

HOME RUN DERBY…the Mariners set a club spring record with 58 home runs, leading all MLB teams (Braves were 2nd with 49)…the old record was 51 home runs in 32 games in 1999…the Mariners hit at least one home run in 32 of 33 spring games, with 22 players recording at least one home run (14 with 2+ HR)…Michael Morse (9), Kendrys Morales (7), Franklin Gutierrez (5) and Justin Smoak (5) combined for 25 of the 58 home runs to lead the team.

HR PERSPECTIVE…the 58 HR hit by the Mariners are second-most by any team in spring play over the last 20 years (since 1994)…according to the Elias Sports Bureau only the Cubs (62 in 1999) hit more spring homers dating back to 1994.

MORSE HR KING…Michael Morse finished spring training leading the Majors with 9 home runs, including homers in three of his last four games (7 HR in last 13 G)…Morse set the Mariners single-spring record with his 9 HR, passing Mike Wilson’s 8 home runs in 2009…Morse also hit 9 home runs during spring play with the Washington Nationals in 2011, and went on to have a career season batting .303 with 31 HR, 95 RBI and a .910 OPS…Morse ended spring batting .357 (20×56) with 12 extra base hits (9 HR, 3 2B), and recorded the highest OPS (1.332) and slugging percentage (.893) in the Majors.

Michael Morse led the Majors with 9 spring training homers.

CACTUS HOMERS…the 9 home runs by Michael Morse were the most by a Cactus League player since 2003 when Barry Bonds hit 10 home runs for the Giants…Morse, who also hit 9 HR in 2011 with Washington, is one of just seven players with 9+ spring HR since 2002.

MORE MORALES…Kendrys Morales finished his first spring with the Mariners with 7 home runs, tying for fourth-most in the Majors…the switch-hitter homered in 5 of his last 9 games, including three straight March 16-19…overall Morales batted .311 (19×61) with 7 home runs, 14 RBI and led the team with 15 runs scored…he hit .360 (9×25, 3 HR) from the right side of the plate, and .278 (10×36, 4 HR) from the left side.

Kendrys Morales hit 7 home runs in 19 games.

SMOAKIN…Justin Smoak finished spring play batting .407 (24×59) with 8 doubles, 5 home runs, 15 RBI and a 1.251 OPS (.455 OBP, .797 SLG)…amongst Cactus League leaders listed for most doubles (T1st, 8), slugging percentage (4th, .497) and batting average (7th, .407)…he recorded at least one hit in 16 of his 19 Cactus League games (7 multi-hit)…his batting average finished 21st all-time in spring club history (min. 50 AB), with Michael Morse holding the top spot (.492/32×65 in 2008) and Raul Ibañez ranking 6th (.443/27×61 in 2006).

SAUNDERS NAMED TO ALL-WBC TEAM…Michael Saunders (Canada) was named the MVP of the World Baseball Classic Pool D played in Phoenix, and also named to the METLIFE All-WBC team…Saunders finished the tournament batting .727 (8×11) with 4 runs, 3 doubles, 1 home run and 7 RBI (1.273 SLG, .769 OBP).

Michael Saunders was named to the All-WBC Team.

PEORIA DIAMOND CLUB ROY…right-hander Brandon Maurer was named the Peoria Diamond Club Rookie of the Year…Maurer went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA (4 ER, 24.0 IP) in 7 appearances (4 starts)…among qualifying Cactus League leaders, Maurer ranked first in ERA (1.50), T3rd in wins (3), T9th in innings pitched (24.0) and T5th in strikeouts (25)…Maurer has been named the Mariners No. 4 starter to open the season.

Brandon Maurer went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA.

WINNING STREAK…the Mariners recorded a 10-game winning streak Feb. 23-March 4, setting a club spring record, besting the previous 8-game streak set March 28-April 4, 1993…also recorded a 6-game win streak March 14-19.

EARLY START = LONG SPRING…the Mariners Cactus League opener February 22 vs. the Padres was the earliest the Mariners have ever played a Spring Training game…the previous earliest spring game was Feb. 25, 2009 vs. the Padres…the 33 Cactus League games were the 2nd-most in club history, trailing 37 played in 2009 (also a WBC year).

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC…Michael Saunders (Canada), Alex Liddi (Italy) and Oliver Perez (Mexico), as well as minor leaguers Kalian Sams (Netherlands) and Brian Sweeney (Italy) competed in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

The Mariners WBC Players.

Here is the complete Spring Training statistical recap:

Today’s Game:
The Mariners scored three runs with two outs in the eighth inning to claim a 6-4 come-from-behind win over the Cubs at HoHoKam Park. Minor leaguer Nate Tenbrink singled to drive in Jesus Sucre to tie the game at 4-4, and Kelly Shoppach followed with a two-RBI double for the margin of victory. Hisashi Iwakuma started and worked four innings. He allowed three runs, with two coming on a two-out, two-RBI homer by Alfonso Soriano. Kameron Loe worked 2.0 innings (1 un-earned run) and Lucas Luetge (W), Carter Capps, Tyler Burgoon (SV) each had a scoreless inning pitched. Full box score here.

Goodbye Arizona:
Today’s tilt in Mesa was the final Spring Training game in Arizona for the Mariners. They will fly on Friday to Salt Lake City, and close out the exhibition schedule with one game versus Colorado on Saturday. This was the Mariners 37th spring in the Valley of the Sun, the 20^th playing games at Peoria Stadium. (Seattle actually trained in Peoria in 1993, but the stadium was not built yet and the team played all road games). From 1977-1992, the Mariners called Tempe Diablo home, the same spring facility that the Seattle Pilots used in 1969 and 1970.

Another Cactus League season is in the books.

And, Goodbye HoHoKam (sort of):
Today’s tilt in Mesa was also the final game for the Chicago Cubs in HoHoKam Park. The Cubs have trained in Mesa since 1979 (and also 1952-65) and will remain in Mesa in 2014, but in a new facility about three miles from their current site. The Oakland A’s will remain in Phoenix Municipal for the 2014 spring, but will move into the Cubs former facility (albeit, remodeled) for spring of 2015. And since you’re wondering, Arizona State will move into Phoenix Muni. The Mariners played the first, and the last, game in remodeled HoHoKam. The ‘new’ ballpark opened here on Feb. 28, 1997.

Have a seat!

Blackjack:
Today was the Mariners 21^st win this spring, tying the club record (also: 1994). Mariners will have one more chance to pick up a first-ever 22^nd Spring Training win on Saturday.

Oh, Henry!:
With the end of Spring Training in AZ, comes the official end of the career of longtime Mariners clubhouse manager Henry Genzale. Henry worked in big league clubhouses in Seattle in three different Stadia (Sicks’, the Kingdome and Safeco Field) and has worked with the Mariners since their inaugural season of 1977.

Michael Morse…again:
Michael Morse hit his Cactus League leading 9^th homer of the spring in the second inning. Nine home runs is a new Mariners club record, surpassing Mike Wilson’s total of 8 in 2009. Morse’s longball also meant that Seattle homered in 31 of 32 games in Arizona this spring. Seattle’s total of 56 homers this spring leads all MLB teams, and is the (tie) second most in the past 20 years (Chicago-NL, 62 in 1999; Kansas City 56 in 2009).

Opening Day at Safeco:
Fans in Seattle can take in the April 1 Opening Day game vs. A’s as part of an Open House at Safeco Field. The event features free admission and free parking in the Safeco Field and Century Link garages. Gates open at 6 pm and first pitch in Oakland is at 7:07 pm for Felix Hernandez vs. Brett Anderson.

Tweet of the Day:

A perfect game deserves full screen mode, don't you think @RealKingFelix? http://t.co/8zZLaa5hoC—
Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 28, 2013

On Tap:
Friday is a travel day for Seattle. The club will play Colorado in Salt Lake City on Saturday at 12:05 pm (PT). Saturday’s game will be broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle, and televised by ROOT Sports. Right-hander Brendan Maurer is scheduled to start for Seattle, with left-hander Jeff Francis taking the hill for the Rockies.

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