The Seattle Mariners dropped a 2-1 decision to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Monday in spring training play. Despite Rhylan Thomas's 1-for-3 with an RBI effort at the plate, the Mariners could not pull even when it mattered. On the mound, Bryan Woo turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of 1-run ball with four strikeouts. The Diamondbacks out-hit the Mariners 7-5 on the day. Despite the result, the coaching staff gathered useful data on the current state of the roster. Spring training losses sting, but the information gained will inform decisions as Opening Day approaches.
Key Performers
Rhylan Thomas was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. His steady bat was exactly what the lineup needed. Performances like this give the Mariners confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Brendan Donovan added to the attack, going 2-for-3 with a double and Connor Joe provided support, going 2-for-3 with a double. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Pavin Smith led the Diamondbacks offense with a 1-for-3 with an RBI day. Adrian Rodriguez also contributed, going 1-for-1 with an RBI. Jorge Barrosa added a 1-for-3 with a double effort as well. The Diamondbacks offense proved to be too much for the Mariners pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Bryan Woo got the start, delivering a strong performance, working 4.0 innings while allowing 1 earned run on 3 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 50 pitches in the outing. It was exactly the kind of outing the Mariners need from their pitching staff heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 4.2 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out four. Spring training gives the coaching staff a chance to evaluate bullpen depth, and today provided useful information about the current state of the bullpen. Each reliever is auditioning for a roster spot, and innings like these factor into those decisions.
Among the relievers, Alex Hoppe stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. His performance was one of the day's bright spots from the bullpen.
How It Happened
Diamondbacks got on the board first with a run in the fourth inning. The Mariners responded with a run in the fifth. Diamondbacks countered with a run in the ninth. Diamondbacks out-hit the Mariners 7-5, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 11,944 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
It was not the outcome the Mariners were looking for, but spring training provides a forgiving environment to work through the rough patches. The focus remains on preparation and development, and the coaching staff will use today as a teaching opportunity. The regular season is right around the corner, and every game is a chance to improve.
