Mariners notebook: Platoon players showing their versatility
May 31, 2016, 12:49 PM | Updated: 1:03 pm
Adam Lind had a big at-bat in Monday's win to set the stage for Dae-Ho Lee's three-run homer. (AP)
(AP)
With Leonys Martin out, Mariners manager Scott Servais has had some interesting options when making out lineups. We’ve seen platoon players get extra opportunities, and on Monday the result was good with both parts of the first base platoon coming through. While Dae-Ho Lee provided the fireworks with the three-run blast in the eighth inning, Scott Servais pointed to Adam Lind’s at-bat just before as one of the standouts in the game.
“Probably one of the better at-bats he has had all year as far as laying off some tough pitches. He gets a pitch he can handle, against a very tough pitcher,” Servais pointed out.
Lind’s two-strike single up the middle off Brandon Maurer gave the Mariners some needed breathing room for about 30 seconds before the Lee home run.
“It worked out well to get both in the lineup,” said Servais. “It’s nice when they are swinging the bat like that, both of them have a lot of ability and put the bat on the ball with power.”
We have seen that from Lind of late. Over the last two weeks he has hit .327 with two doubles, four home runs and 15 RBIs. It appears his bat has heated up.
Lind, of course, is in the lineup against the righty James Shields on Tuesday, but Lee is not. Franklin Gutierrez takes the extra spot as a platoon righty hitting against the right-hander. Earlier this week, Servais acknowledged that Gutierrez does and has always hit right handers so he feels comfortable putting him in the lineup. Gutierrez has a six-game hitting streak going, over which he is 8 for 20 with a double, three home runs and six RBIs.
Notes
• Two good sights on the field before today’s game. Leonys Martin took batting practice and Tony Zych, who is on the 15-day DL with rotator cuff tendinitis, finished up a long toss session by bringing it in and throwing two more from 60 feet to get the feel for throwing from mound distance. The plan, if things continue to progress, is for Zych to throw a bullpen early next week.
• Ketel Marte begins his rehab assignment with the Rainiers on Tuesday. The team is home through Friday and then travels to Las Vegas for a four-game series. Marte will travel for one game with the Rainiers as Servais does not want him to have two days off before his return. “Fingers crossed, he becomes active when we get off the trip Monday.”
