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Seattle Mariners

Mariners can’t come up with the big hit in a 4-2 loss to the Indians

Seattle Mariners’ Ben Gamel (16) hits a grounder back to Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Zach McAllister, right, during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Goodyear, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
Seattle Mariners’ Ben Gamel (16) hits a grounder back to Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Zach McAllister, right, during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in Goodyear, Ariz. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
By Ryan Divish Seattle Times

Indians 4, Mariners 2 at Goodyear Ballpark

The Mariners had nine hits, but didn’t muster much for runs. They stranded eight runners on base and went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

Closer Edwin Diaz got roughed up a little in his one inning of work. Entering in the top of the fifth, Diaz issued a lead-off walk to start his issues. Later with two outs, he left a 3-1 fastball over the middle of the plate to Melvin Upton. Jr. The veteran outfielder turned it into a two-run homer to right field for a 3-1 lead.

Reliever Ryan Cook, who missed all of 2016 with a torn latissimus dorsi and all of 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery, pitched for the first time this spring allowing a run on three hits in his inning of work.

Seattle’s first run came in the second inning. Taylor Motter tripled off the wall in right-center to score Mike Ford from first base for a brief 1-0 lead. The Mariners other run came on a solo homer from Tuffy Gosewisch in the top of the ninth.

Player of the game

Lefty Ariel Miranda made his second appearance of the spring, pitching three innings and allowing one run on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Miranda did take a hard comebacker off his leg in the second inning, but scrambled to get the out and appeared fine in the third inning.

Quotable

“I thought Ariel threw the ball much better today. He got his secondary pitches going. He had a pretty good changeup. He had that ball off his calf on the comebacker and he’s going to be a little sore, but what a recovery and a he made a great play on that.” – Servais

On Tap

The Mariners return to Peoria Stadium on Thursday to host the Kansas City Royals. Right-hander Mike Leake will make his second start of the spring with right-handers Casey Lawrence and Chasen Bradford also scheduled to pitch. The Royals will start right-hander Burch Smith. First pitch is set for 12:10 p.m. Pacific. The game will be televised on Root Sports while the radio broadcast will be live on mariners. com and on delay on ESPN 710.