Mariners Lineup: Upton returns as DH, Murfee is Game 2 opener

The Mariners dropped the first game of Saturday’s split doubleheader to the Angels 4-2, and first pitch for Game 2 is set for 7:10 p.m.

Trout homers in 10th, Angels topple Mariners to begin twinbill

The good news for the Mariners Saturday was that Justin Upton returned to the lineup after being hit in the head by a pitch Friday night.

Upton, 34, took a 91 mph fastball directly to the helmet from Angels starter Michael Lorenzen. Upton stayed on the ground for a little over a minute before standing up and walking off the field under his own power. He was replaced by Dylan Moore.

Upton was the Mariners’ designated hitter in Game 1 on Saturday and went 0 for 3 and he will DH again in Game 2.

When the Mariners and Angels face off again Saturday night, Penn Murfee will be on the hill for Seattle in the first game as the opener.

Mariners Game 2 lineup

Julio Rodríguez, CF
Ty France, 1B
Eugenio Suárez, 3B
J.P. Crawford, SS
Dylan Moore, RF
Justin Upton, DH
Abraham Toro, 2B
Adam Frazier, LF
Cal Raleigh, C

Penn Murfee, SP

More Mariners Notes

• The Mariners added veteran lefty Tommy Milone from Triple-A Tacoma before the second game of the doubleheader and demoted right-handed reliever Matt Festa. To make room for Milone on the 40-man roster, reliever Joey Gerber, who has pitched only one professional inning since the end of 2020 due to injuries, was designated for assignment.

• Justus Sheffield was designated as Seattle’s “27th man” for the doubleheader. Chris Flexen started the first game for Seattle and Logan Gilbert is slated to start the series finale on Sunday. Sheffield may come in after Murfee as the “bulk guy” for Seattle once Murfee’s night is finished. Milone could also fill that role.

• Rookie center fielder Julio Rodríguez hit leadoff for Game 1 of the split doubleheader and will do so again in Game 2. These are the first two times in his young career that Rodríguez has hit first for the Mariners.

• Dylan Moore homered and Rodríguez had an RBI single to get Seattle’s two runs across in Game 1.

• Reliever Ken Giles was at the stadium and throwing with other relievers Saturday morning, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, but was not activated for Saturday’s game. Giles signed with the Mariners two offseasons ago but hasn’t pitched for the club yet as he’s recovered from Tommy John surgery and later a finger injury. He’s been doing rehab stints with High-A Everett and Triple-A Tacoma in recent weeks.

• The Mariners wore Seattle Steelheads uniforms for the first game of the doubleheader as part of a Salute To The Negro Leagues celebration. The Steelheads were a West Coast Negro Baseball League team in 1946. The Mariners will also sport the uniforms on Sunday for Juneteenth.

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