SHANNON DRAYER

Drayer: Heart of Mariners’ order shows power, Justus Sheffield duels brother

Mar 4, 2021, 4:31 PM | Updated: 7:26 pm

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases on his home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases on his home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Braden Bishop #5 and Mitch Haniger #17 of the Seattle Mariners celebrate a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Third base coach Manny Acta and Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners celebrate Seager's  home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners steps on home plate after his home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners hits a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Tom Murphy #2, Evan White #12 and Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners celebrate after a home run against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after a home run by Ty France #23 in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Jack Reinheimer #73 of the Seattle Mariners and Yonathan Daza #2 of the Colorado Rockies collide at second base seventh inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Jack Reinheimer #73 of the Seattle Mariners and Yonathan Daza #2 of the Colorado Rockies react after a collision seventh inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Yonathan Daza #2 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after a collision at second base against the Seattle Mariners seventh inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Justus Sheffield #33 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Justus Sheffield #33 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Kyle Seager #15 tosses the ball to Justus Sheffield #33 of the Seattle Mariners in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Justus Sheffield #33 of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before an MLB spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before an MLB spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners warm ups during an MLB spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Tom Murphy #2 of the Seattle Mariners claps toward the infield against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners warms up beforethe second inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Kyle Seager #15 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after his bats against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Evan White #12 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning of an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Tom Murphy #2 of the Seattle Mariners tosses a ball before the third inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex on March 04, 2021 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Braden Bishop #5 of the Seattle Mariners bats in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game on March 04, 2021 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Braden Bishop #5 of the Seattle Mariners leads off base in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game on March 04, 2021 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Taylor Trammell #20 of the Seattle Mariners bats against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during an MLB spring training game on March 04, 2021 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Braden Bishop #5 of the Seattle Mariners bats in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game on March 04, 2021 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Sam Travis #13 of the Seattle Mariners watches his foul ball against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during an MLB spring training game on March 04, 2021 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Braden Bishop #5 of the Seattle Mariners runs the base in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game on March 04, 2021 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Braden Bishop #5 of the Seattle Mariners gestures to the dugout in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies during an MLB spring training game on March 04, 2021 at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

There was plenty that Mariners pitcher Justus Sheffield wanted to see from himself in his first outing of the spring, but it was what came after that held the most interest. On the mound to start the fourth inning for the Rockies was his older brother, Jordan Sheffield.

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“That was awesome,” said Justus, who watched his brother from the rail in the Mariners dugout. “Honestly just truly blessed to share the field with him. I’m super excited for him with what he has going with the Rockies. The adrenaline was pumping a little bit just from that aspect.”

The two worked out together near their home in Tennessee during the offseason and have enjoyed the back and forth when their minor league teams have faced each other in the past. For now, it is Justus who holds the bragging rights, picking up a ‘W’ in a game where his Arkansas Travelers walked off against Jordan pitching for the Tulsa Drillers in 2019.

“I can always hold that over his head, getting that dub in the series,” he said.

Before he had the opportunity to watch his brother pitch, Sheffield got good work in, giving up two hits and striking out one in two innings. Now comfortable throwing the two-seamer he discovered in spring training last year and feeling good about his excellent slider, the focus in his first outing was using his No. 3 pitch, the changeup.

“I feel like now that I have found the consistent shape that I want and consistent speed, now it is just about executing it and throwing it late and early in counts,” Sheffield said. “It was good to see some swing and misses with it.”

Offensively, a lot to like early in what turned into a 9-9 tie in 8 1/2 innings.

For the second straight day, the Mariners hit three home runs in a game. This time they came all in a row, with Mitch Haniger, Kyle Seager and Ty France going back-to-back-to-back in the third inning against Rockies reliever Phillip Diehl.

“I was really excited,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Haniger, he’s looked really good. his timing is getting better. Seager and France behind him, it’s exciting. When those guys swing the bat like they are capable of, our lineup is going to be just fine.”

Haniger, who the Mariners plan to build up slowly this spring, notched his third hit in as many days, this one a towering shot over the bullpen in left. It was a welcome sign after missing over a year of action.

“He’s got his strength back,” Servais said of Haniger. “He looks good physically in the box. All of the training he has done to get back in shape and get on the field, I think he has a really good understanding of where his body is at and understanding how his swing is working. I think his swing right now looks shorter than it ever has. He feels really good about it and it is great to see him get results because he’s put a ton of work in to get back out.”

Related: Mitch Haniger ready to put 600 days out of action behind him

In addition to Haniger and Sheffield, Servais pointed to Seattle’s base running and an inning thrown by Kendall Graveman as highlights of the game. On the downside, the bullpen struggled. Rule 5 pickup Will Vest allowed four runs (one unearned) on three hits and one walk, and Brady Lail, Paul Seawald and Keynan Middleton all surrendered runs as well.

The Mariners take on the Chicago White Sox in Glendale, Ariz. on Friday, with Chris Flexen scheduled to make his first start. The game will air live on 710 ESPN Seattle beginning at noon, with first pitch set for 12:05 p.m.

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