Was it the Nelson Cruz home run? The six-run eighth inning that had a little bit of everything? Or, was it manager Scott Servais getting into it with Jeff Banister?
If you are a Seattle Mariners’ fan, you most likely had a fine Tuesday evening, but if you consider yourself a Rangers’ fan, you were probably shaking your head as the Mariners grabbed game two of the three game series by a score of 10-2.
Opening Day was a sloppy game by both teams as the Rangers collected just one hit, but also collected three runs in a 3-2 win over Felix Hernandez. Tuesday, however, was a different story.
The Mariners usually have success hitting in Arlington, and Tuesday night was no different as they pounded out 11 hits along with 4 home runs on the night.
Seattle also got a solid five-inning outing out of Hisashi Iwakuma as he made his season debut while Martin Perez lasted six innings for Texas. Both starters left with the game tied up at two and it was on to the bullpen from there.
The Mariners got two runs in the seventh and then followed it up with that aforementioned six-run eighth inning. The runs were great, but maybe the best part of the night for the Mariners was their ability to get production from the entire order.
Nori Aoki, at the top of the order, collected two hits. The middle part of the order did their job, and then Leonys Martin was able to come up with an RBI double as well in the nine spot.
If the Mariners are to do anything with this season, getting that type of production is a necessity. Now, it is just game two of 162, but these are trends that can be a recipe for success for a team trying to end the longest postseason drought in baseball.
With Robinson Cano off to a hot start, he is a major key to the team’s success. The biggest question will be if they can carry at least a little bit of this offense back to Safeco Field when they aren’t in a bandbox like GlobeLife Park.
For now, at least, it is the first series of the season, and the Mariners have a chance to go win it Wednesday afternoon in Arlington.
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