Today the Mariners completed their first Spring Training game of 2019, defeating the A’s 8-1. and pushing their Spring Training run differential to +12. For the second straight day, the Mariners’ offense exploded early, hanging four runs on starter Daniel Mengden and reliever Ryan Buchter. Unlike yesterday, the Mariners were able to play a full game, and dominated the A’s on both sides of the ball for all nine innings.
The Mariners got on the board early, tagging a rusty-looking Daniel Mengden for two runs. Mengden walked Dee Gordon on four objectively terrible pitches, then grooved a fastball to Mitch Haniger, who does not look rusty:
The M’s continued the offensive onslaught in the third against Oakland reliever Ryan Buchter, with a Haniger walk, a Kyle Seager oppo single (his second hit of the day, following a double in the first), a credible Ryon Healy walk (!