SEATTLE MARINERS

Mariners use HRs, defense to keep rolling and beat Dodgers 4-3

Apr 19, 2021, 10:48 PM | Updated: 11:55 pm

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: J.P. Crawford #3 celebrates an out made by Dylan Moore #25 of the Seattle Mariners to end the top of the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)2

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Jose Marmolejos #26 is greeted by Ty France #23 of the Seattle Mariners after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers to take a 2-0 lead during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Taylor Trammell #20 of the Seattle Mariners laps the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Jose Marmolejos #26 of the Seattle Mariners laps the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers to take a 2-0 lead during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Justus Sheffield #33 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Dustin May #85 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners slides while attempting to steal second base during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after attempting to steal second base as the play is reviewed during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Justus Sheffield #33 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after giving up a hit to Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Taylor Trammell #20 of the Seattle Mariners watches a two-run home run by Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers exit the field during the third inning at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Dustin May #85 of the Los Angeles Dodgers shouts while walking back to the dugout after giving up an RBI double to Taylor Trammell #20 of the Seattle Mariners to extend their 4-2 lead in the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers commits a fielding error off a hit by Luis Torrens #22 of the Seattle Mariners in the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the dugout after scoring off an RBI single by Zach McKinstry #8 during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out while swinging during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after being hit by a pitch during the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 19: Rafael Montero #47 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after forcing the final out to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 at T-Mobile Park on April 19, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AP staff

SEATTLE (AP) — Dylan Moore wasn’t supposed to be at third base Monday night until Ty France’s injury forced some shuffling of the Mariners’ infield.

Seattle was fortunate Moore was there for one of the crucial moments of its 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mariners 4, Dodgers 3: Box score

Moore thwarted a Dodgers rally with a terrific defensive play to end the seventh inning on a night the Mariners used a couple long balls off Dodgers starter Dustin May, a strong start by Justus Sheffield and a solid bullpen effort to come out on top in a matchup of early season division leaders.

“He has a knack for making plays,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “He’s super athletic. You see the diving plays, and he finishes plays. A lot of guys dive and knock it down but the ball kicks out of their glove. Doesn’t happen so much with Dylan.”

THIS. IS. ABSURD. pic.twitter.com/rb976Y0OnJ

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 20, 2021

Seattle handed the Dodgers a second straight loss, the first time on the young season Los Angeles dropped consecutive games. Rookie Taylor Trammell homered and added a key RBI double, but it was Moore’s catch and the performance of Seattle’s bullpen that was on the Mariners’ minds afterward.

Seattle’s four relievers combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings with one hits, two walks and one hit batter.

“It goes to show what our bullpen is, how much talent we have down there,” Sheffield said. “When they get ahead it’s just tough on the hitter.”

When France was lifted, Sam Haggerty initially jogged to third base. But Servais quickly swapped Haggerty and Moore, who had been at second. It proved to be the right decision.

The Dodgers threatened in the seventh with two runners on and one out, but Kendall Graveman struck out Justin Turner and Moore made a leaping catch at third base to rob Will Smith of a base hit that would have tied it.

“The Will Smith liner … it could have been a different game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Los Angeles threatened again in the ninth against closer Rafael Montero after a walk and Mookie Betts getting hit put the tying run at second with one out. Corey Seager grounded into a game-ending double play, and Montero recorded his third save.

Roberts said Betts — who was hit on the right forearm — would have some tests on his arm and was unsure his availability for Tuesday.

José Marmolejos got Seattle started with a two-run shot in the first inning that barely cleared the wall in right field.

This one's coming in HOT 🥵☄️ pic.twitter.com/0eBeaNg3j6

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 20, 2021

Trammell, one of Seattle’s top young prospects, added a solo homer to deep left-center in the second inning, and his RBI double with two outs in the fourth capitalized on an error by second baseman Chris Taylor for a 4-2 lead.

Yes. Yep. Uh huh. Yup. For sure. Totally. We like this. pic.twitter.com/O9PaywSl75

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 20, 2021

Sheffield (1-1) threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, three walks and striking out six. His lone mistake was Seager’s two-run homer to center field in the third inning. Zach McKinstry added an RBI single in the sixth that ended Sheffield’s night.

May (1-1) struck out eight, but the two long balls were the first homers he’s allowed this season.

“It was a tough feeling for me. I guess I failed the team today. The hitters hit well. It was kind of poor execution on my end,” May said.

Brilliance. pic.twitter.com/1oRfLcbhSl

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 20, 2021

FRANCE LEAVES

Seattle 3B Ty France was replaced after getting hit on the right forearm by a 98 mph fastball from May in the fifth inning. France initially stayed in the game but was removed before the start of the sixth inning. X-rays were negative.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: OF Cody Bellinger is traveling with the Dodgers and ramping up his baseball activity. Manager Dave Roberts said Bellinger (calf) did some light jogging, fielding and took some swings before Monday’s game. “Today was a good, considerable day. Hopefully he comes out of today feeling good and we just continue to progress,” Roberts said.

Mariners: Seattle expects AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis to make his season debut Tuesday. Lewis has been out for nearly a month due to a bone bruise in his knee suffered late in spring training. Manager Scott Servais said Lewis played in an alternate site game Monday and appears set to be brought off the injured list. … Servais said the team has arranged a vaccination clinic for players and staff following Tuesday’s game. The Mariners are off on Wednesday before opening a series in Boston on Thursday. Servais said as of now he doesn’t believe the Mariners will get to the 85% vaccination rate among Tier 1 personnel that would lift some COVID-19 restrictions teams must currently follow.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: LHP Julio Urías (2-0) looks to remain perfect on the young season. Urías gave up a season-high four earned runs in his last start against Colorado.

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (1-1) makes his fourth start of the season. Gonzales was roughed up in his first two starts but allowed just two runs and three hits in his last start against Baltimore.