Game Setup and Intensity
Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson noted before their off day that the team planned to shift toward full game-like scenarios. In a contest against the Kansas City Royals at the Peoria Sports Complex, the Mariners nearly achieved that vision despite ultimately falling 7–6. The starting lineup, close to a major league configuration for a spring game, pushed hard from the outset.
Pitching Excellence from Bryan Woo
Bryan Woo delivered an impressive performance in a limited role, pitching three innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Woo allowed only one unearned run on three hits while effectively using his changeup and off-speed pitches. In his first three spring starts, he has struck out 11 batters across 5.1 innings, maintaining a clean slate by not allowing an earned run. His ability to neutralize top hitters, including an encounter with a prominent Royals batter, underscored his growing presence on the mound.
Key Offensive Contributions
Seattle’s starters set the tone early, loading the bases in the opening innings to spark offense that yielded five of the team’s six runs. Center fielder Julio Rodriguez emerged as a key figure, launching a grand slam during the second inning on his very first pitch at bat. Rodriguez finished with two hits and four RBIs, underscoring his importance in the lineup. Complementing his efforts, right fielder Victor Robles added a home run and an RBI, while third baseman Jorge Polanco contributed with steady hitting to keep the rally alive.
Late-Inning Struggles and the Royals’ Comeback
While the Mariners showed promising offense and starting pitching, the relief efforts proved inconsistent. The bullpen saw action from seven relievers, most of whom struggled to record more than a single hit in limited outings. The Royals capitalized on this by tying the game and ultimately scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning. An injury to a Royals batter, who was hit on the forearm early in the game and later underwent scans, underscored the intensity of the matchup and the potential costs of aggressive play.
The game displayed a blend of promising individual performances and tactical challenges, reflecting both the high-energy aspirations of the Mariners and the unpredictable nature of spring contests.
