Mariners Look to Stay Sharp with Intra Squad Scrimmage, “Road” Team Takes Game One
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - In their attempt to stay sharp and avoid rust while they await their opponent in the ALDS, our Seattle Mariners hosted the first of two intra squad scrimmages this afternoon at T-Mobile Park to a crowd of just below 5,000. Things were loose, as there was no particular batting order followed and teams did not stick to three outs per half inning, leading to some confusing scenarios for those attempting to keep score. This scrimmage was used to continue getting the position players plate appearances over the “bye week” and help the relievers get some innings in against live batters. The two rosters were largely a split of the main roster position players, with some of the teams postseason taxi squad mixed in, while relievers were the ones pitching today. Home runs from Eugenio Suárez and Cal Raleigh were the main highlights, as Ichiro Suzuki took part in the event by playing right field, and Victor Robles brought his vibes to the afternoon by winning the “Salmon Run,” much to the delight of the fans in attendance.
“It’s mostly our bullpen guys today, we do have some taxi squad players here as well that will help out, likely tomorrow, but getting most of our bullpen guys in today and tomorrow, then having our guys get some at bats against them. Continue to see live ABs, live pitching. We’re going to try to mix and match. It’s not going to be our standard lineup and that, but we’re going to try to do what we can to get as many at bats to guys and keep it as competitive as we can. Again, it’ll just kind of depend on how the game goes and whatnot. We’re super appreciative that these guys took the time out to be here and to help us out. ”
The road (Northwest green jersey) team took an early lead, as home team (White jersey) starting pitcher Emerson Hancock was unable to record an out in the top of the first inning. Randy Arozarena lined a single into left field, followed up by a Dominic Canzone walk, to put two runners on for Eugenio Suárez. “Geno” made a deposit into the Mariners bullpen, slamming a three-run homer to give his side in this intra squad scrimmage the lead. After Victor Robles drew a walk in the next plate appearance, we shifted to the bottom of the first inning with Hancock unable to get an out.
The home (White jersey) team was able to answer back with a home run of their own, as Cal Raleigh continues to hammer baseballs into the stands with a solo shot into the first row of the right field stands. Victor Robles, in right field for the road team, made a leaping effort but was unable to bring it back. Julio Rodríguez singled into right field immediately after and teased Robles by making it halfway to second base before returning to first. Bazardo was able to strikeout Josh Naylor looking, making it two punchouts after getting Jorge Polanco to do the same, to close out the first inning of this scrimmage.
The top of the second saw quick work for Emerson Hancock, who struck out the side for a nice bounce back frame after the trouble he saw in the first. The home team was able to get a runner on in the bottom of the second inning, as Josh Naylor singled, but he was later caught stealing as he was lightly jogging in attempt to catch reliever Carlos Vargas off guard. Vargas got a four out inning, as Jorge Polanco flew out to center, Leo Rivas flew out to right field, and Cole Young grounded out to second base.
Things got a bit more situational in the top of the third inning, as Colt Emerson came into the game to act as a base runner with one out as Gabe Speier had come in to pitch for the home team. After Eugenio Suárez flew out to Julio in center field and Mitch Garver flew out to Ichiro in right field, sparking a standing ovation and Suzuki giving the “No Fly Zone” symbol to the fans, Victor Robles lined a single into right to score Emerson from second. Speier got Arozarena to strikeout looking, ending the top of the third.
The home side couldn’t get much going in the bottom of the third, despite Jorge Polanco’s leadoff walk against Matt Brash. “The Fireman” Matt Brash was able to work around the base runner with a pop out of Cal Raleigh, a 4-6-3 double play when Julio Rodríguez came to the plate, and a fly out from Josh Naylor.
Andrés Muñoz, special entrance and music included, took over for the top of the fourth inning with the home team trailing by three runs. J.P. Crawford was able to come around and score after a leadoff walk, stealing second base, advancing to third on a groundout, and scoring on a wild pitch. Luke Raley struck out swinging, Canzone grounded out to second base, and Arozarena drew a walk for the final plate appearance of the fourth inning.
Collin Snider took the mound in the bottom of the fourth for the road team, making quick work of his outing by getting Naylor to strikeout swinging, Raleigh to fly out to deep center field, and Julio Rodríguez to fly out to right field. As if it wasn’t clear, things were being kept light and loose in this scrimmage as Victor Robles gave Julio the “No Fly Zone” symbol after catching the inning ending flyout, a few innings after the outfielder participated in the “Salmon Run” and won.
The top of the fifth inning saw Troy Taylor come in for the home team, getting Luke Raley to ground out to second base before hitting Dominic Canzone with a pitch in his left shoulder. Canzone did not take first base and instead went into the dugout, as the Mariners opted to leave the runners they’d placed on the corners of Nick Raposo at third and Colt Emerson at first. A Miles Mastrobuoni fly out to center scored Raposo from third, and Emerson advanced all the way to third. Rhylan Thomas hit a high fly to center field that seemed like an ordinary play for Julio, but the sun must have caused some issues as Rodríguez dropped the ball. That was the final play of the top of the inning, as we then shifted to the bottom of the fifth.
A line drive into center field by Jorge Polanco to leadoff the inning seemed to provide some issues for Rhylan Thomas, but the road team centerfielder ended up making the catch for the first out. With Colt Emerson and Samad Taylor placed as runners on the corners (First and third, respectively), Raleigh grounded out to second for a 4-6-3 double play to clear the bases for Julio. Rodríguez doubled down the left field line to allow Harry Ford a plate appearance, where the young catcher struck against Collin Snider to end this scrimmage. The road team did the win dance and celebrated as if it was a real game, with Julio coming in to jokingly mess with the win dance from his spot on second.
Dan Wilson said after the scrimmage that Canzone is doing good after being hit by a pitch, taking a pitch off his left tricep.
Rosters for this intra squad scrimmage
Home (White jersey) team
Cal Raleigh, C
Josh Naylor, 1B
Cole Young, 2B
Leo Rivas, SS
Ben Williamson, 3B
Samad Taylor, LF
Julio Rodríguez, CF
Ichiro Suzuki, RF
Jorge Polanco, DH
Harry Ford, DH
Colt Emerson, DH
Emerson Hancock, RP
Gabe Speier, RP
Andrés Muñoz, RP
Troy Taylor, RP
Road (Northwest Green jersey) team
Mitch Garver, C
Luke Raley, 1B
Miles Mastrobuoni, 2B
J.P. Crawford, SS
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
Randy Arozarena, LF
Rhylan Thomas, CF
Dominic Canzone, RF
Victor Robles, DH
Nick Raposo, DH
Eduard Bazardo, RP
Carlos Vargas, RP
Matt Brash, RP
Collin Snider, RP
What’s next?
The Mariners will hold their second scrimmage this week tomorrow, Thursday, October 2nd with a first pitch time of 5PM PDT with gates opening at 4PM PDT. This scrimmage is sold out, with the Mariners capping out attendance at 5,000 fans to fill the seats from dugout to dugout. During the scrimmages, fans can literally gear up with AL West Champs & Postseason merch from the Mariners Team Store and enjoy their favorite concessions at select Walk-Off Markets. Seattle is set to have a workout day on Friday, the day before game one of the ALDS, but that is closed to the public.
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