Color Scheme

Subscribe now
Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: Yovani Gallardo settles down after shaky first but damage was done

Seattle Mariners’ Nelson Cruz watches his two-run home run off Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Danny Salazar in the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, April 29, 2017, in Cleveland. Robinson Cano also scored on the play. (Tony Dejak / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

CRUZ AND SEAGER HIT FIRST-INNING HOMERS BUT M’S ATTACK FIZZLES

What happened: Yovani Gallardo settled down after a shaky start, but the damage was all done in the first inning as the visiting Seattle Mariners’ three-game winning streak came to a halt with a 4-3 loss the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on Saturday.

Gallardo gave up four runs – all in the first inning – on six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over six innings. The Indians took advantage of three Gallardo walks in the first inning, then left it to Danny Salazar to shut the Mariners hitters down.

Salazar had a rough first inning as well, allowing home runs to Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager. But he settled down as well, and gave up just three hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

The Mariners didn’t get a hit after the first inning.

Line Outs

  • Things started out promising enough. Robinson Cano drilled a two-out double, then Nelson Cruz cashed him in with a two-run homer (6) to center. Kyle Seager followed with his first home run of the year, and the M’s lead 3-0 before most folks and even bought their peanuts and cracker jacks.
  • Unfortunately, Yovano Gallardo had a hard time getting started. He walked the first two batters an after a flyout, walked a third. Jose Ramirez spanked a 1-0 change to right that plated two. Gallardo struck out Jason Kipnis, but left a fastball up and Lonnie Chisenhall hit it hard to center to drive in two more.
  • In the third, Ben Gamel drew a one-out walk, but Cano lined out to center and Cruz K’d to end the inning.
  • Seager walked to lead off the fourth, but Salazar mowed down the next three in order to waste another golden opportunity.
  • Perhaps the Mariners’ best chance to get back on the board came in the seventh. With one down, Guillermo Heredia walked, then the Indians went to super-reliever Andrew Miller. The M’s originally pinch-hit for Zunino with recently recalled Boog Powell, but then switched to veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz. Surprisingly, Miller walked Ruiz to put two on with one out. Miller rebounded to strikeout Taylor Motter and Jean Segura to quash the rally.

The Takeaway

A weird one. What looked like a slugfest turned into a pitcher’s duel. Gallardo actually looked really good after the lousy first, but the damage was done by that point. Cruz has quietly raised his average over .300 and encouraging to see Seager finally get a hold of one.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: Nelson Cruz. Only had one hit, but it was a big one.

Goat: Danny Valencia. 0 for 3. Average down to .181. Dishonorable mention: Mike Zunino. 0 for 2, .172.

Mariners Notes

M’s went 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position and left four on base.

Next Game

Seattle Mariners (11-14) at Cleveland Indians (13-10) on Sunday at 10:10 a.m. at Progressive Field. RHP Chase De Jong (0-1, 5.79) vs. Josh Tomlin (1-3, 9.33).