Nothing sure for Elias despite good 2014
PEORIA, Ariz. – There might be no better example of the Mariners’ improving fortunes than left-hander Roenis Elias having to fight to keep his spot in the rotation.
It was Elias who, a year ago as a rookie, proved the club’s biggest spring surprise by coming out of Double-A and pitching his way onto an injury-depleted rotation.
Elias then validated his big-league credentials by producing a 3.85 ERA while going 10-12 in 29 starts.
Dodgers 7, M’s 4: A split squad of Dodgers capitalized on three Mariners errors, including two by shortstop Ketel Marte, for five unearned runs in a comeback victory in Glendale.
Marte made both of his errors in the a three-run sixth, which victimized lefty Mike Kickham.
Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez worked around two singles in the first inning but gave up two unearned runs in the second – unearned but deserved: Ramirez committed a throwing error.
Play(s) of the game: Defensive mishaps elsewhere aside, starting shortstop Chris Taylor delivered an RBI triple and a two-run homer that staked the Mariners to a 4-2 lead through 4 1/2 innings.
Taylor has tweaked his swing in an effort to add some pop after managing just eight extra-base hits last season in 136 at-bats.
“It’s funny,” he said. “There are days like this when it just seems to happen naturally. You’re not thinking too much. And there are other days when you can’t figure it out.”
Plus: Lefty Tyler Olson, who spent most of last season at Double-A Jackson, retired six straight Dodgers in the third and fourth innings.
Minus: First baseman Jesus Montero failed to catch Jimmy Rollins’ routine foul pop in the first inning. It was somehow scored “no play.”