Mariners notebook: Pitchers get in the cage with interleague games coming up

A beautiful afternoon was made even more so for three Mariners pitchers who got to hit Tuesday.

With interleague games coming up on the next roadtrip, Nathan Karns, Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma got to take batting practice. Taijuan Walker also came out to the field with a bat but was told by manager Scott Servais that he would not be swinging – no need to take a chance with him coming off neck stiffness.

“I don’t think he’s talking to me now,” said Servais.

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Nathan Karns, who hit a solo homer in a 1-0 win last year while playing for Tampa Bay against the Phillies, put a few in the stands and one between the upper deck and Edgar’s Cantina.

“Karns has got some pop for sure. He definitely had the best swing,” said bullpen coach Mike Hampton.

Hampton was known as one of the better hitting pitchers in his day, putting up a career line of .246/.294/.356 with 16 home runs, including seven in 2001.

“The biggest thing honestly is to just be able to get bunts down,” Hampton said about hitting as a pitcher. “Anything else is a plus. As long as we can move the runner over, give us a chance to score a run, that’s what matters most.”

Yes, but getting the bunt sign is never fun for the pitcher, although for Hampton there was a way around that.

“I just fouled two off and then I would hit,” he said with a laugh.

As for his most memorable hit?

“That would have to be my first homer,” he said. “It was off Woody Williams in 2001. I hit some off of some talented pitchers: Kerry Wood, Johan Santana, Al Leiter. I had some pretty good guys in my book, but the first one is most memorable.”

Hampton was fortunate enough to play the majority of his 16-year career in the National League, getting 845 opportunities to swing the bat or attempt to lay down the bunt. For American League pitchers, the precious few interleague at-bats are their only opportunities. Something almost all of them look forward, and if they are lucky enough to get a hit, remember forever.

“It’s like lineman like to carry the ball. You want to do something exciting,” said Hampton. “Everybody comes to see the longball. As a kid it’s not 3-2, bases loaded, let’s strike the guy out. It’s 3-2, bases loaded, I’m up and I hit a homer. It’s like the chubby guy who wants to run, pitchers want to hit.”

Lineup!

Ketel Marte, SS
Franklin Gutierrez, LF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Chris Iannetta, C
Kyle Seager, DH
Dae-Ho Lee, 1B
Luis Sardinas, 3B
Leonys Martin, CF

Wade Miley, LHP

Notes

• The Mariners survived a scare in batting practice today. Ketel Marte rolled his ankle while in the field and had to be helped to the rail on the visitor’s side by teammates. Trainer Rick Griffin examined the ankle and then took Marte inside. About ten minutes later he popped out of the dugout, grabbed his bat and took a round of batting practice. He is good to go tonight.

• I was a guest on 710 ESPN Seattle’s “Justin and Gee” on Tuesday. You can hear the interview here.

• The Mariners took batting practice in some rather colorful sunglasses. Turns out they were a gift from Dae-Ho Lee. Lee, who has an endorsement deal in Korea, gave each teammate and member of the coaching staff a pair of sunglasses with the coaches’ and players’ names and numbers embossed on them.

One of the pairs of sunglasses Dae-Ho Lee got for his teammates. Told he has an endorsement deal in Korea. pic.twitter.com/IQ8nJpWO4q

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 11, 2016

Follow @shannondrayer