With Nelson Cruz out of the lineup Sunday and likely the two games in San Francisco, who will the Mariners turn to for the power now missing?
Well, Dee Gordon and Mitch Haniger, of course.
Wait, Dee Gordon?
Yes, the Mariners’ speedy center fielder and leadoff man who weighs about half of what Cruz does with his uniform on and weights in his shoes provided some unexpected pop while Haniger continued his torrid start to the season in the Mariners’ 5-4 win over the Indians on Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field.
With the scored tied 2-2 in the seventh inning, Gordon, who hit all of two homers last season and has 11 over his eight-year career, yanked a fastball from right-handed reliever Dan Otero, sending it over the wall in right field.