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Relievers team up to help Mariners beat Rockies

Seattle Mariners' Shed Long, right, doubles in the first inning against the Oakland Athletics during the first spring training baseball game of the season Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, in Mesa, Ariz. Long drove in one run against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. (Dean Rutz / Associated Press)
News service reports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Seattle relievers combined for seven scoreless innings, and Shed Long delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning as the Mariners knocked off the Colorado Rockies, 4-2, in front of a crowd of 6,493 on Sunday afternoon.

After a solo home run from Nolan Arenado in the bottom of the first, the Mariners evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the second. Ichiro Suzuki drew a one-out walk, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Jake Fraley’s two-out single.

The Rockies regained a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the second on a two-out RBI single from Yonathan Daza. Seattle tied it in the fifth when Dylan Moore doubled, eventually scoring on a wild pitch.

The Mariners took a 4-2 lead in the sixth. Tim Lopes walked and scored on single by Long. After Long stole second, he scored on a pinch-hit single from Dom Thompson-Williams.

In his 2019 spring debut, Wade LeBlanc allowed two runs on three hits in two innings of work. Justus Sheffield tossed two scoreless innings in relief, striking out four of the final five batters he faced. Erik Swanson, Tommy Milone, Robin Leyer and Matt Tenuta also pitched scoreless outings.

Japanese left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is scheduled to make his Mariners debut today, starting against Reds lefty Alex Wood.