Daniel Vogelbach’s three-run homer carries the Mariners to a 4-2 win over the Brewers
Mariners 4, Brewers 2 at Maryvale Baseball Park
Starter Marco Gonzales raised his scoreless-innings streak to five this spring. Gonzales worked three shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking four batters. He worked around early trouble in the first inning with runners on first and second and no outs, getting Ryan Braun to ground into a 5-4-3 double play and striking out Domingo Santana.
“Marco threw the ball really good today,” manager Scott Servais said. “He’s got some confidence building. He’s using all of his pitches and it was great to see. I thought his sequencing of his pitches today was outstanding.”
The Brewers picked up two runs against lefty specialist Marc Rzepczynski, who loaded the bases with one out, walked in a run and allowed another run to score no a sac fly.
Guillermo Heredia got his first at-bat of the spring. He was a pinch hitter in the seventh inning at the designated hitter spot. Heredia drew walks in both of his plate appearances.
Ben Gamel was a late scratch before the game and replaced in the order by Cameron Perkins. Gamel tweaked something in his lower back while hitting in the cage earlier in the day and the Mariners decided to shut him down. He will be out a few days.
“It’s one of those springs where we are dealing with bumps and bruises,” Servais said. “But we’ve got an off day on Monday.”
Braden Bishop added a RBI single in the game.
Right-hander Wyatt Mills picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning. He allowed one hit but struck out three. Mills was a third-round pick out of Gonzaga in the 2017 draft.
“Threw the ball really well,” Servais said. “I think he’s going to have a nice career ahead of him.”
Player of the game
Daniel Vogelbach’s foot is fine and his swing isn’t too bad either. The young first base prospect had a big game, going 2-for-2 with a single, a three-run homer and a walk while also handling his defensive duties without incident. Of course, the big hit came in the fifth inning when he crushed a pitch from lefty specialist Boone Logan onto the berm in right-center.
Quotable
“It was good. I need that. We need that experience. It’s not always going to be flowers and rainbows so I value that for sure. Guys on base, we’ve been working on a lot of stuff with a man on second, so it’s good to be in that situation.” – Gonzales on pitching out of trouble.
On Tap
The Mariners are back at Peoria Stadium for the first night game of the spring when they host the Angels. Right-hander Rob Whalen will make the start for Seattle with right-handers Max Povse and Ljay Newsome also expected to pitch. The Angels will start lefty Tyler Skaggs. Since he pitched on Friday, DH/pitcher Shohei Ohtani is not expected to play in the game. First pitch is set for 5:40 p.m. Pacific.