Mariners fall short to A’s, 8–5
Seattle scores all 5 of its runs on a trio of RBI doubles from Jack Reinheimer, Cal Raleigh & Jarred Kelenic
Hohokam Stadium in Mesa was the final Cactus League ballpark the Mariners had yet to visit in 2021 prior to Thursday afternoon’s clash
Recap
MESA, Ariz. — The Mariners dropped Thursday afternoon’s game at Hohokam Stadium to the Oakland Athletics by an 8–5 score. Seattle scored all five of its runs on a trio of RBI doubles.
Seattle got the scoring started in the top of the second inning off Oakland starting pitcher Frankie Montas, with catcher Tom Murphy leading off the frame with a single into left field. Julio Rodríguez singled two batters later, and Jack Reinheimer knocked both of them in with a two-run double to give the Mariners a 2–0 lead.
The A’s answered with a pair of two-run homers in the bottom of the inning from Jed Lowrie and Stephen Piscotty, both off Mariners starting pitcher Nick Margevicius. The lefty went 3.2 innings, allowing the four runs on five hits and two home runs, walking a pair and striking out four. He was replaced in the second inning by Moises Gomez, but re-entered to begin the third and proceeded to toss two scoreless innings.
Seattle also answered, knotting up the game 4–4 in the top of the third. Dylan Moore and Jarred Kelenic both scored on another Mariners two-run double, this time off the bat of Cal Raleigh.
Matt Chapman broke the tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth off Seattle reliever Brady Lail, giving Oakland a 5–4 lead. The Mariners used Gomez, Lail, Drew Steckenrider, Will Vest, Casey Sadler and Nick Duron out of the bullpen, with Oakland collecting three insurance runs in the eighth off Sadler to pull ahead 8–4.
The Mariners made it interesting in the top of the ninth, putting the potential go-ahead run at the plate with no outs. Kelenic knocked in Reinheimer with an RBI double in the inning, reaching safely in three of his five plate appearances on the afternoon. Rodríguez also reached safely three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base:
The Mariners return to Peoria Stadium for a Friday night clash with the San Diego Padres where Seattle will play as the road team. Left-hander Marco Gonzales is scheduled to make his final spring start for the Mariners against Padres left-hander Ryan Weathers with a 6:40 pm first pitch.
