The Seattle Mariners dropped a 7-4 decision to the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on Thursday in spring training play. Despite Colin Davis's 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBI effort at the plate, the Mariners could not pull even when it mattered. On the mound, Emerson Hancock turned in a solid outing, working 4.0 innings of 2-run ball with five strikeouts. The Cubs out-hit the Mariners 10-6 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
Colin Davis was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBI. His ability to drive the ball out of the park was the highlight of the afternoon. Performances like this give the Mariners confidence that the lineup is rounding into form.
Cole Young also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, Brendan Donovan chipped in, going 1-for-3, and Rhylan Thomas added to the attack, going 1-for-1. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Chas McCormick led the Cubs offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Devin Ortiz also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI. Ian Happ added a 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI effort as well. The Cubs offense proved to be too much for the Mariners pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Emerson Hancock took the loss after delivering a strong performance, working 4.0 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits with five strikeouts. He threw 56 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 4.0 innings of work, allowing 5 earned runs while striking out three. 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. Vince Reilly recorded the save to close out the game.
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
The Mariners struck first, pushing across a run in the third inning. Cubs struck back with two runs in the third. Cubs added a run in the fifth. Cubs tacked on four runs in the seventh. The Mariners countered with three runs in the eighth. The Cubs were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Cubs out-hit the Mariners 10-6, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 14,717 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.
