The Seattle Mariners cruised to a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Peoria Stadium on Sunday in spring training action. Brendan Donovan paced the offense, going 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, George Kirby turned in a solid outing, working 4.2 innings of 2-run ball with four strikeouts. The Reds out-hit the Mariners 11-8 on the day. The Mariners will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Brendan Donovan was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI. His extra-base hit was a key moment in the game. The Mariners will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Luke Raley also contributed, going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI, Rob Refsnyder chipped in, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Carson Taylor added to the attack, going 1-for-2. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Matt McLain led the Reds offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Tyler Stephenson also contributed, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. Spencer Steer added a 1-for-3 with a double effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Mariners pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
George Kirby got the start, turning in a quality outing, working 4.2 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 7 hits with four strikeouts. He threw 67 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 3.4 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out six. The Mariners continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting. Charlie Beilenson recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Andrés Muñoz stood out with 1.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out three. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
Reds got on the board first with two runs in the third inning. The Mariners struck back with five runs in the fifth. The Mariners added a run in the sixth. Reds responded with a run in the eighth. Reds out-hit the Mariners 11-8, with 2 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 9,223 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Mariners will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.
