Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager Lead Mariners to Victory
By Max Carter
Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager each smashed three-run homers for the Seattle Mariners in an 8-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday in Peoria, AZ. The dingers backed 3 1/3 scoreless innings from the talented lefty James Paxton in his first start of Spring Training.
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Seager’s bomb came in the first inning on a 1-0 changeup from Yovani Gallardo, just eeking over the fence in left-center field. Cruz followed suit in the third inning, nearly sending Gallardo’s first pitch fastball over the hitter’s eye in dead center field. So far, it seems that Nelson Cruz will have no problem clearing the daunting fences at Safeco Field.
With Opening Day only two weeks away (thank goodness), Lloyd McClendon’s Mariners appear primed to head into April with guns blazing. Paxton’s strong start only confirmed what the Mariners and the rest of the MLB already know-Seattle has a dominant pitching staff.
But while the pitching and defense for the Ms is undeniably strong, the Mariners have a middle of the lineup to be excited about for the first time since Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson and a young(er) Raul Ibanez.
Mar 22, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager (15) celebrates with designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) and second baseman Robinson Cano (22) after hitting a three run home run in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The Mariners as a team have posted a Spring average of .288, fourth-best in the MLB, and an even better OPS of .806, third-best in the league. Thanks to stellar springs from guys like Dustin Ackley, who is tied for the team lead in RBI, and a healthy Logan Morrison, who has the most at bats for the Ms this Spring en route to an OPS of .914, the Mariners’ offense has been nothing short of great.Not to mention the .345 spring average posted thus far by that guy behind the plate who hit 22 home runs in 2014.
Of course, Spring Training stats really mean nothing more than encouragement, but when you have eight projected starters with averages above .300, that is pretty dang encouraging.
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