The Seattle Mariners dropped a 9-4 decision to the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday in spring training play. Despite Cole Young's 1-for-3 with an RBI effort at the plate, the Mariners could not overcome a sizable deficit. On the mound, Cooper Criswell turned in a solid outing, working 3.0 innings of scoreless ball with one strikeout. The Giants out-hit the Mariners 9-6 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
Cole Young was the key contributor 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.
Jonny Farmelo chipped in, going 2-for-2 with a double and a triple, Connor Joe added to the attack, going 1-for-2, and Andrew Knizner provided support, going 1-for-3. While there were individual bright spots, the lineup could not string hits together consistently.
On the other side of the diamond, Jake Holton led the Giants offense with a 1-for-2 with a home run and four RBI day. Bryce Eldridge also contributed, going 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI. Tyler Fitzgerald added a 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI effort as well. The Giants offense proved to be too much for the Mariners pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Cooper Criswell got the start, putting together a workmanlike effort, working 3.0 innings while allowing 0 earned runs on 2 hits with one strikeout. He threw 41 pitches in the outing. It was a useful learning experience as the Mariners evaluate their pitching depth heading into the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 3.6 innings of work, allowing 8 earned runs while striking out seven. 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, Josh Simpson 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, tallying a run in the third inning. Giants answered with five runs in the fourth. The Mariners responded with two runs in the fifth. Giants countered with three runs in the fifth. The Mariners struck back with a run in the sixth. Giants answered with a run in the eighth. The Giants were able to score in three separate innings, keeping the pressure on throughout the contest. Giants out-hit the Mariners 9-6, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 8,961 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.
