Daniel Vogelbach caps an impressive spring with a three-run homer as Mariners prevail in the Cactus League finale
Mariners 5, Rockies 3 at Salt River Fields
Marco Gonzales made the start in the Cactus League finale. The lefty pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Gonzales will start on Tuesday, April 3 against the Giants at AT&T Park.
“Marco Gonzales had an outstanding spring training,” manager Scott Servais said. “He’s done everything we hoped he would do. He’s healthy. He’s worked all of his pitches in and had a nice outing today.”
Gonzales made seven starts this spring, posting a 1-1 record and 2.08 ERA in 26 innings pitched with 21 strikeouts and nine walks
Ichiro Suzuki played seven complete innings in the game. He came to the plate four times and not registering a hit. He went 0 for 3 with a walk. He played in five regular Cactus League games, going 0-for-10 with two walks and five strikeouts. Ichiro had a handful of balls hit to him in left field and looked fine, showing no issues with his injured calf.
Mitch Haniger, who has dealt with some timing issues this spring after missing games with a sore hand, ripped a pair of doubles in the game.
Seattle finished Cactus League play with a 16-14-2 record, going 10-2-1 over the final 13 games.
Player of the game
You might as well also call him “Player of the Spring” for the Mariners. Daniel Vogelbach put a perfect capper on scintillating showing in the Cactus League, crushing a three-run homer off of right-hander Matt Pierpoint in the eighth inning. Vogelbach went 2 for 4 in the game. He finished the spring .407 (22 for 54) with a .529 on-base percentage, a .926 slugging percentage, seven doubles, seven homers, 15 RBIs and 13 walks in 22 games. He led all of spring training in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging percentage.
Minor league outfielder Billy Cooke made a pair of brilliant catches in the later innings to help prevent runs, including a diving grab on the warning track.
Quotable
“Vogelbomb ended his spring the right way. Danny has had an awesome spring. It’s nice to see him complete it that way. You figured he was going to hit the ball hard somewhere. I’m really happy for him. I’m hoping it continues. He’ll get a few starts here early this season and hopefully he stays hot. The defense has been much better. The at-bats, the approach at the plate, he’s a different guy. It’s the guy that the scouts saw when we acquired him and it’s starting to come out. It’s good for him. It’s good for us.” – Servais
On tap
The Mariners and Indians will both have workouts on Wednesday afternoon at Safeco Field. Seattle will be on the field at 2 p.m. Cleveland will go at 4 p.m. The workouts are closed to the public. The two teams will opening the 2018 season on Thursday night at 7:10 p.m. Right-handers Felix Hernandez and Corey Kluber will start on the mound.