Michael Morse hit two more home runs in the Seattle Mariners' Spring Training win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday (March 14). His offense helped propel the Mariners to an 8-7 victory, escaping a bad pitching performance by starter Joe Saunders in the process.
Saunders got the start for the Mariners, but he ended up allowing seven runs over 3 2/3 innings of work. In that time he allowed nine hits and walked one as his spring ERA ballooned to 9.45. This is not what the Mariners were hoping for when they signed Saunders as a free agent, but it's possible he was simply working on some pitches.
The offense really bailed out the team in this one, scoring eight runs on 11 hits for the day. Morse went 3-for-3 with five RBIs, Justin Smoak was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Kendrys Morales went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. All three hitters have been very hot this spring and that could bode very well for the Mariners when it comes to the middle of the batting order.
Kyle Seager batted leadoff for the team to give them a different look, but he went 0-for-3 to continue the struggles that the Mariners have had at the top of the order this spring. His average also dipped to just .219, showing that he isn't quite back to the where the team would like him to be at the plate.
The win pushed the Seattle Mariners to 12-7 this spring. The team will next take on the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, with Jeremy Bonderman getting the start at about 1:05 p.m. PT.
Interested in reading Mariners news as it happens? Subscribe to this column (right under article title at the top) and receive instant e-mail updates of Mariners breaking news.
More Seattle Mariners News:
Jon Garland, Jeremy Bonderman Have Shot at Seattle Mariners Starting Rotation?
Michael Saunders Wins MVP At 2013 WBC
Stefen Romero Drives in Seven Runs During Game
Casper Wells Drives In Five Runs, Mariners With 10th Straight
Comments