For the first time this spring, the Mariners got to play not only a fellow AL opponent, but also a divisional opponent. It’s always felt to me like an unfair advantage for Houston to be the only team in the AL West not to play in the Cactus League/train in Arizona, as it decreases the amount of scouting opportunities and looks for fellow players. Although that doesn’t explain how gobsmacked the Mariners hitters looked by the Angels pitching staff, striking out 11 times in the game.
The Mariners hitters might have struck out 11 times, but the bright side of that is Mariners pitching struck out 13 Angels.