Angels 6, Mariners 2 at Tempe Diablo StadiumNotable
Logan Gilbert accepts that at some point during the grind of spring training he’s going to have a start where he doesn’t feel great and the final stat line is a little ugly.
Gilbert might be critiquing himself a little harshly after the outing Saturday against the Angels when he lasted 2 2/3 innings, gave up two runs, six hits, struck out five and walked a pair on a warm afternoon in Tempe.
“A little off. Command wasn’t great, and falling behind and stuff like that,” Gilbert said. “So kind of hopefully just get that one out of the way. I usually have one of those a spring, so it’s good timing getting it out of the way.”
Gilbert faced an Angels lineup that looked like one he could see in the regular season with starters like Zach Neto, Mike Trout, Yoan Moncada, Jo Adell, Nolan Schanuel and Logan O’Hoppe in the lineup.
And nearly all of them did a little bit of damage off Gilbert. Trout doubled, Schaunel tripled, O’Hoppe singled to drive in the Angels’ first run and later doubled on a hanging curveball.
Gilbert again used the PitchCom system to call some of his own pitches and while the outcomes weren’t always the best, felt convicted in what he was throwing.
“I actually felt pretty good about it and I’m not going to do it all the time, I’m not even sure I’m going to use it in season. But I wanted to see if it’d be a good or bad feel, or distracting. And if anything, I felt like I was more convicted,” Gilbert said.
While Gilbert was fighting some of the feel on his slider and curveball, he was happy with how his cutter felt.
“That actually felt the best by far, which is really weird. Usually my fastball and slider feel the best,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert still has one more spring start to come. When that falls on the calendar over the next week probably determines whether he’ll be the starter on opening day.
Cole Young’s run-scoring single and Luis Suisbel’s solo homer accounted for Seattle’s offense.
One concern for the Mariners was outfielder Brennen Davis, who entered the day tied for the most extra-base hits in spring training with eight, but left the game after his first at-bat in the second inning due to hamstring tightness. Davis grounded out to third and jogged slowly up the line, and was replaced in the field in the bottom of the inning.
Davis said he thinks he’ll be fine moving forward and that the heat of the day game might have contributed.
Player of the game
Young continues to have a really strong spring at the plate. He was 2 for 5 with a double, a run-scoring single and a fly out to deep center field in the ninth inning. Young now has an OPS of 1.056 this spring in 38 at-bats and has three doubles and a homer in his past four games.
“He’s finding barrels. His timing has been very good — I think that’s kind of the last thing to come in spring training. I think he’s found his timing and seems like he’s on time for any fastball,” M’s manager Dan Wilson said.
Quotable
“Just taking an extra precaution with him. He’s had such a good spring for us and not wanting to push it. Just said he had felt something back in the hamstring, so a chance to get him out of there early,” Wilson on Davis getting pulled in the second inning.
On tap
The Mariners will face the Reds on Sunday at the Peoria Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. PT. George Kirby is scheduled to get the start in his third outing of spring training. Andrés Muñoz also is scheduled to pitch in his first time on the mound since returning from the World Baseball Classic. Matt Brash also is listed as an expected pitcher in what would be his second spring outing. The game will not be televised but will be available on a live radio call on Seattle Sports 710-AM, Mariners.com or the MLB app.
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