The Mariners showed off their power in their second intersquad game of the week
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners wrapped up the second of two scrimmages this week on Thursday at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners had a bye through the wild card round of the playoffs, and used the two scrimmages to remain sharp leading up to the American League Divisional Series.
The game, which was split into "home" and "away" teams, was won by the white uniform-draped home team 4-1 off strength of several home runs.
Here's the takeaways from The Mariners second scrimmage:
T-Mobile can't hold Mariners lineup
The away and home teams weren't able to find separation through the top of the second. Both sides had base runners in that stretch but were unable to get them home.
The home team was able to get on the board in the bottom of the second, via a pair of solo home runs from first baseman Josh Naylor and shortstop Leo Rivas.
Rivas' blast bounced off the LED board just below Hit it Here Cafe in right field.
Naylor finished the game 3-for-4 with two singles and a homer.
"The at-bats we've seen from Leo since he's been back have been outstanding," M's manager Dan Wilson said after the scrimmage Thursday. "And a couple of the big homers (have come) at very opportune times, as well. We saw today, that ball — way out off the scoreboard. He does so much for us, he can play anywhere ... his versatility is so helpful in a lot of situations."
Home center fielder Julio Rodriguez added a solo home run in the bottom of the third and an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to bolster the home team's lead to 4-0.
The away team, who won Wednesday's scrimmage 6-1, didn't get on the board until the top of the fifth inning. Center fielder Luke Raley hit a solo home run to left field for the eventual final of 4-1.
"That's what we've talked about," Wilson said. "The balance in our offense. The ability to score a lot of different ways. Today was the home run. Yesterday, a couple more where we were able to just drive them in. It's all necessary in these series, especially the short ones. It's important to be able to strike and strike quickly, and I think that's what our offense is set up to do."
Seattle's starting rotation in question for ALDS
Before the scrimmage, Mariners ace Bryan Woo threw a light bullpen, with Rivas and Harry Ford standing in as hitters with directions not to swing.
Woo has been nursing right pectoral inflammation since his last outing against the Houston Astros on Sept. 19. He missed the final two series of the regular season against the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Woo's status for the ALDS is still in question. If he is unable to go, or out for the first three games, the likely rotation will be some combination of Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Luis Castillo. One of those three would start Game 3 against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday.
"I think we'll have a lot of that information (Friday) as we get everything compiled and ready to go," Wilson said before the scrimmage Thursday.
Other notes
Seattle's top prospect, Colt Emerson (No. 11 MLB Pipeline top 100, No. 12 Baseball America top 100) was brought up on the team's postseason taxi squad. He mainly played the scrimmages as a situational pinch-runner and in the infield. He was the home team's starting third baseman and helped turn a 5-6-3 double play in the first inning Thursday.
Emerson received his first at-bat in either scrimmage in the bottom of the fifth inning Thursday. He nearly hit an opposite-field home runs in his first at-bat at T-Mobile Park, but the fly ball was caught on the warning track.
Up next
The Mariners will have a workout on Friday. They'll host the Tigers in Game 1 of the ALDS at 5:38 p.m. PT on Saturday at T-Mobile Park.
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