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Seattle Mariners

Daniel Vogelbach leads M’s to 9-7 win over Rangers

Seattle Mariners first baseman Daniel Vogelbach walks in the dugout before a spring training baseball game in February. Vogelbach drove in three runs Friday as the Mariners defeated the Rangers 9-7. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press)
By Ryan Divish Seattle Times

Daniel Vogelbach homered, doubled and drove in three runs, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Texas Rangers 9-7 Friday in Surprise, Arizona.

Mariners starter Mike Leake pitched four innings, allowing six runs on nine hits with three strikeouts. Leake’s fastball was down a few ticks to 89 mph. He admitted to battling overall fatigue that is typical this time of spring training. Leake said he planned to try and get additional rest this week to fight off the effects.

Jean Segura returned to the lineup after exiting Wednesday’s game with tightness in his right hamstring. He showed no ill effects, registering three singles in three at-bats, including a two-run single in the second inning.

Mike Zunino had a solid game at the plate and behind it, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a RBI. Zunino also made a handful of nice plays defensively, specifically a nice block on a pitch in the dirt and then getting to his feet and throwing out a runner trying to advance to second.

Vogelbach continues to hit this spring, and he’s showing no sign of slowing down. Facing lefty Matt Moore for the second time in the game, Vogelbach pulled a 2-0 fastball over the wall right field for a two-run homer. In the seventh, facing hard-throwing right-hander Matt Bush, Vogelbach smashed a shot to left-center. The ball was inches away from being a homer. He had to settle for RBI double instead.

In 14 games this spring, he is now batting .405 (15-for-37) with a .532 on-base percentage, .811 slugging percentage, six doubles, three home runs, nine RBI and nine walks.