Mariners Log: James Paxton goes seven scoreless in home opener win

April 10, 2017 Updated Mon., April 10, 2017 at 5:55 p.m.

By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com (509) 459-5441

SECOND CONSECUTIVE SCORELESS START FOR M’S LEFTY

What happened: James Paxton was sublime, the offense showed for the home opener and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 6-0 at Safeco Field on Monday.

Paxton struck out eight over seven innings for the Mariners (2-6) and allowed no runs on four hits and two walks. He rarely pitched in trouble and when he did, was able to make big pitches or had help from his defense, which turned another double play for a starter.

Paxton became the second Mariners pitcher in club history (Felix Hernandez, 2007) to begin the season with consecutive starts of six-plus scoreless innings pitched.

Mariners hitters finally got to Astros starter Charlie Morton in the fifth and a pair of relievers in the sixth for multi-run innings.

Nelson Cruz had a big day, going 3 for 4 with a key two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth off Morton.

Only bad news: Jean Segura came out of the game with a hamstring strain after diving back to first on a line out. After the game, manager Scott Servais said Segura’s injury was “very mild,” and he was listed as day-to-day.

Line Outs

Paxton with a solid 1-2-3 top of the first on 15 pitches, including strikeout of Alex Bregman. After all the pomp and circumstance of the home opener, you love to see the starter go out, settle down and have an easy first inning.
Home plate ump Mike Everitt was allowing the (way) outside strike call to right-handed batters in the first inning. Jean Segura had one called in his nine-pitch at bat and Mitch Haniger was wrung up on one on the ninth pitch he saw.
Mariners catch a break in the second, as Evan Gattis struck out on a ball in the dirt and Carlos Beltran got a late break and was thrown out easily by Mike Zunino on the rare K-2-4-3 double play.
In the third, Zunino singled and Jarrod Dyson was hit by a pitch with no outs. Segura grounded to third for a potential double play, but Dyson made good hard slide to hinder Jose Altuve turning. It appeared Altuve came off the bag before catching, but replay upheld the call.
No matter, as Haniger then lined into a double play at first, with Yuri Gurriel diving back to nab Segura, caught in no-man’s land. Segura came out of the game and was replaced by Taylor Motter. The team announced a right hamstring strain a couple of innings later.
In the fourth, Robinson Cano swung through a breaking ball that then hit him in his right shin where he wears a guard. Took several moments and met with the trainer to collect himself and eventually earned a base on balls. He was in considerable pain though, wincing after every pitch.
After Cano reached, Nelson Cruz singled up the middle and Haniger’s popup to center fell in to load the bases with no outs. Danny Valencia struck out on a ball a foot off the plate (and running away), Leonys Martin swung through a breaking ball and Zunino flied out to right to end the threat with no runs.
The Mariners loaded ’em up again in the fifth. Dyson doubled, but was nabbed at third on Motter’s routine grounder to short. Haniger doubled and Cano was issued a free pass. This time, Cruz came through with a single up the middle that plated two. Kyle Seager’s sac fly to right brought home Cano and it was a legitimate three-run rally.
M’s picked up two more in the sixth. Martin led off with single and stole second. Zunino walked but Dyson forced Martin at third with a crummy sac bunt attempt. The Astros switched relievers and Motter lined to left for the second out. Haniger came through though, roping a line drive to right that plated Zunino and Dyson to make it 5-0.
Paxton got into hot water in the seventh, with Carlos Correa and Carlos Beltran reaching with no outs. He came back to get Gattis on a popup, struck out Marwin Gonzalez on a goofy breaking ball and Martin tracked down Josh Reddick’s liner in the gap to keep it a shutout.
Reliever Dan Altavilla made things interesting in the eighth, loading the bases with one out. But he struck out Correa on a nasty low slider then Beltran fouled out halfway up the third-base line.

The Takeaway

It’s always nice to win the home opener. Paxton was tremendous and the bats are definitely showing signs of life – finally. The big issue is Segura though. If he’s out for any amount of time it’ll require a roster move since the team is only carrying one backup infielder.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: James Paxton. Clearly. He was dominant and relaxed, delivering a second consecutive scoreless appearance. Honorable mention to Nelson Cruz with the big blow, a line drive two-run single in the fifth.

Goat: Carlos Beltran. The Astros slugger went 1 for 4, but stranded six and left a gaping hole in the Astros attack.

Mariners Notes

The Mariners are now 7-4 in their last 11 home openers since 2007 and are 25-16 (.610) in 41 home openers overall…Seattle recorded its first shutout in a home opener since April 8, 2013 (3-0 vs. Astros)…Marked the Mariners first shutout since Sept. 13, 2016 (8-0 vs. Angels)…Paxton allowed only 1 runner to reach scoring position…It marked his 10th career game of eight or more strikeouts (last: Sept. 28, 2016 at Astros).

Next Game

Seattle Mariners vs. Houston Astros on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field. LHP Ariel Miranda (0-0, 3.60) vs. Joe Musgrove (0-0, 3.60).

What others are saying

Scott Servais wants a mulligan on the opening road trip. Sorry, no can do. Can’t go for that. But we can highlight all they special pieces coming out of the home opener, including John Blanchette’s column and others from Matt Calkins, Larry Stone, John McGrath and Art Thiel. … Jean Segura got hurt diving back to first – somehow straining his hamstring – and had to be replaced by Taylor Motter. When Robinson Cano hit a foul ball off his foot, backup catcher Carlos Ruiz almost had to play first, due to the M’s lack of position players on the bench. … The biggest takeaway from Monday’s 6-0 win over Houston? James Paxton is locked in. … Missed this yesterday but wanted to pass it along. It’s an excellent story from Stone about Felix Hernandez and a local family.