ARLINGTON, Texas — It wasn’t difficult for Mariners manager Scott Servais to find optimistic moments during his team’s 3-2 opening-day defeat Monday against the Rangers.
Reliever Mike Montgomery entered the game in the seventh inning to replace starter Felix Hernandez and pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts and a walk.
Montgomery was converted to a reliever this spring after an injury to Charlie Furbush, and there was a bit of an unknown on how the lefty would handle the new role.
“Really nice outing by Mike Montgomery,” Servais said. “That was awesome to see, and looking forward to many more of those.