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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: Offense pounds out four hits in rubber match victory over Angels

Seattle Mariners’ Danny Valencia follows through on an RBI single in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Thursday, May 4, 2017, in Seattle. Valencia had two RBIs and a solo home run in the game as the Mariners won 11-3. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

BEN GAMEL GOES 3 FOR 3, REACHES BASE FIVE TIMES

What happened: Danny Valencia went 4 for 5 with an upper-deck home run and three RBIs, while Ben Gamel and Guillermo Heredia had three hits apiece in a 16-hit attack and the Seattle Mariners took a series win over the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Thursday at Safeco Field.

Gamel and Heredia, along with Nelson Cruz, all drove in a pair of runs. Cruz, Kyle Seager and Jean Segura all added two hits apiece.

Starter Ariel Miranda (W, 3-2, 3.55) went seven competent innings, and survived a ground ball off his calf. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts. He threw 67 of his 100 pitches for strikes and generated nine ground ball outs against four fly outs.

Angels starter Alex Meyer (L, 0-1, 9.39) allowed six runs on eight hits and three walks with four strikeouts over four innings.

Line Outs

  • After an uneventful top half of the first, things looked promising as leadoff hitter Jean Segura was grazed with a pitch, but Segura was thrown out stealing to give the gift back. Ben Gamel walked but was rubbed out on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Robinson Cano. Losing the runner cost the M’s as Nelson Cruz stayed hot and laced a double to right, with Cano hustling home from first to make it 1-0.
  • The Angels picked up a pair in the second. With one down, Cameron Maybin singled and Danny Espinosa walked. Ben Revere grounded to first to move both runners up, then Juan Graterol singled to left to plate both runners.
  • Yunel Escobar then hit a comebacker off Miranda’s leg, and the pitcher made an awkward throw to first that sailed over Danny Valencia and down the right field line with the runners advancing to second and third. Miranda got out of any more damage with a groundout by Kole Calhoun.
  • The M’s pushed three across in the third. Gamel led off with a walk and after Cano and Cruz both K’d, Kyle Seager singled, then Valencia plated Gamel with a single and both runners moved up on the throw. Guillermo Heredia then launched a popup to short right that fell between three defenders. Both runner scored and Heredia ended up with a double.
  • In the fourth, Gamel singled with one out and scored on Gamel’s double down the line past the diving first baseman Jefry Marte. After a Cano groundout. Gamel scored on Cruz’ single to center.
  • With the competitive portion of the event having culminated, the Mariners tacked on runs in each of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings – including Valencia’s upper-deck moonshot in the seventh.

The Takeaway

Valencia has been looking for a breakout game like this, and Gamel continued his steady production and showed a keen eye. It’s nice to see the Mariners have a big offensive showing even though Cano was hitless in the middle of the order. M’s take 2 for 3 from L.A., again showing small steps of improvement.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: Danny Valencia. On a night where almost everyone had multiple hits, Valencia led the charge with a 4-for-5 night, a massive homer and three RBIs.

Goat: Robinson Cano. Sorry Robby. 0 for 5, two Ks, six stranded.

Next Game

Texas Rangers (12-17) at Seattle Mariners (13-16) on Friday at 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field. RHP Yovani Gallardo (1-3) faces RHP Yu Darvish (3-2, 3.03).