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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: Miranda shaky and Athletics extend M’s road woes

Seattle Mariners pitcher Ariel Miranda wipes his face with his jersey after being removed in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Saturday, April 22, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (Ben Margot / Associated Press)

DE JONG PROVIDES FOUR INNINGS OF SCORELESS RELIEF

What happened: The Oakland Athletics homered twice in the first inning and led the rest of the way, downing the Seattle Mariners 4-3 at Oakland Coliseum on Saturday.

The Mariners fell to 1-9 on the road.

Adam Rosales hit a solo homer and Ryon Healy added a two-run shot off Mariners starter Ariel Miranda (L, 1-2, 4.35) who managed just three innings plus one batter. The young lefty allowed four runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts. He threw 65 pitches, 38 for strikes.

Reliever Chase De Jong, called up on Friday when the team optioned Dan Altavilla, allowed one hit and two walks over four shutout innings with two strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the Mariners got base runners against A’s starter Jharel Cotton (W, 2-2, 4.76) but could never break through for the big inning. The M’s went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left eight on.

Robinson Cano smacked his third home run of the season and went 3 for 4.

Line Outs

  • The M’s got the start they wanted, with Robinson Cano smacking a solo home run (3) off A’s rookie starter Jharel Cotton in the first inning.
  • It didn’t last long. Ariel Miranda pitched though trouble in the bottom, coughing up a solo homer to Adam Rosales and a two-run shot to Ryon Healy. Miranda needed nearly 40 pitches to record the first three outs.
  • Seattle got one back in the third and it could (should) have been more. Jarrod Dyson led off with a single, but was thrown out on a delayed steal – the first CS for A’s catchers this season. Mitch Haniger was hit by a pitch, and went to third on a single by Cano. Nelson Cruz lofted a fly to right deep enough to plate Haniger, then Taylor Motter walked. But Danny Valencia popped out to end the inning.
  • Miranda found more trouble in the third. Jed Lowrie singled, went to third on Healy’s double and scored on a grounder to short by Khris Davis. Chase De Jong, recently recalled from AAA Tacoma, got up in the pen.
  • Miranda gave up a leadoff single to Matt Joyce in the fourth and manager Scott Servais had seen enough, calling upon De Jong.
  • The M’s threatened in the fifth. Haniger doubled to the left field corner with one out and Cruz drew a two-out walk, but Motter flied out to the track in left center to end the inning.
  • Cano singled and Cruz walked to open the eighth against reliever Liam Hendricks. Motter grounded into a 6-4-3, but Kyle Seager pinch-hit and lofted a fly to the wall in center that Jaff Decker misplayed into a triple, scoring Cano. Ryan Madson came on to get Guillermo Heredia on a grounder up the middle.
  • Edwin Diaz appeared for the first time since April 16. He walked one in a scoreless inning.

  • Dyson provided a glimmer of hope, singling with two outs in the ninth against Ryan Madson, but Haniger K’d to end it.

The Takeaway

The two through four hitters – Haniger, Cano and Cruz – combined for 5 for 9 and two walks, but the bottom of the order went dry. Seems like every day a chunk of the offense just goes to sleep. There’s not enough pop throughout the lineup right now. There are some intriguing bats at Tacoma that could help and you wonder how long management will keep them down there for “development.”

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: Robinson Cano. Went 3 for 4 with a first-inning homer. Signs of life from the slugger.

Goat: Ariel Miranda. You’ll have this from young starters where they’ll look like a Cy Young one week and get beaten up the next.

Mariners Notes

Jarrod Dyson went 2 for 4 with a caught stealing out of the leadoff spot…Taylor Motter went 0 for 3 and stranded five in the fifth spot in the order…Mike Zunino went 0 for 4 and is hitting .188.

Next Game

Seattle Mariners (7-12) vs. Oakland Athletics (10-8), 1:05 p.m. Yovani Gallardo (0-2, 6.19) vs. Andrew Triggs (3-0, 0.00).

What others are saying (and writing)

If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. Yesterday it was Miranda’s struggles against an A’s team that is missing its biggest bat – though Rajai Davis should be back soon. … Despite the M’s road struggles, it looks as if Robinson Cano is getting back on track. … Oakland’s Adam Rosales seems to like hitting leadoff. … Kyle Seager was given a day-off yesterday. … Remember Eric Thames? He’s off to a great start this season. … The M’s aren’t anywhere near the top of these power rankings.