MESA, Ariz. -- The long marathon of the Major League season got off to a slow start for the Mariners on Thursday as rain halted their Cactus League opener after just one and a half innings. But Marco Gonzales and his flock of new teammates made the most of the abbreviated outing, jumping to a 5-0 lead over the A’s before the game was called.

Gonzales, who could be in line to start Opening Day when the Mariners and A’s face each other in Tokyo on March 20, threw 13 pitches and recorded one strikeout in a 1-2-3 first and was on the mound warming for the second inning when the skies opened up and the tarp was rolled out.

“I felt really good,” Gonzales said. “My main goal was to go out and throw strikes and attack guys and get ahead in the count. I felt I did a decent job of that. I was ready to keep working in the second inning. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had different plans.”

Since the game didn’t get in the necessary five innings to become “official,” the results will be wiped off the Cactus League books. But Gonzales achieved at least part of what he was looking to accomplish in his opening act and Seattle’s offense racked up six hits and five runs off a trio of A’s pitchers.

Rookie second baseman Shed Long, acquired from the Reds in one of general manager Jerry Dipoto’s numerous winter trades, doubled twice from the leadoff spot, with one RBI and a run scored.

All of Seattle’s hits and runs came from players who are new to the organization this year, including an RBI single by likely starting shortstop Tim Beckham and a sacrifice fly by new left fielder Domingo Santana.

The Mariners only started three likely Opening Day starters, but they did considerable damage off A’s starter Paul Blackburn -- who is a candidate for Oakland’s regular-season rotation -- and veteran lefty Jerry Blevins.

“I love it,” Gonzales said of seeing Long and the other newcomers getting the early outburst. “You’ve got some energy in the dugout going, some good vibes, guys playing for each other and getting excited that we’re scoring. That’s huge this early.”

More important to manager Scott Servais was getting Gonzales’ work in as the Mariners push to get ready in this abbreviated spring, with the Japan trip looming.

With James Paxton traded to the Yankees and Felix Hernandez coming off a rough 2018, Gonzales is stepping into a leadership role on Seattle’s staff. But he’s looking more at getting himself ready and letting the rest fall into place.

“I’m not trying to read too much into it,” he said. “I’m just going to go out and do what I do. But, first Spring Training game, I want to try to put up some runs and go get some dudes out. That’s not going to change. I’m just going to go out and set the tone, regardless of when I throw.”

Gonzales got a comebacker from Robbie Grossman, a flyout by Marcus Semien and then struck out Stephen Piscotty. While Gonzales wasn’t razor sharp, it was a solid showing by the 27-year-old southpaw, who went 13-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 29 starts last year in his first full season in the Majors.

“Pretty good,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “It’s tough. It’s cold out there and misting and what not. But we wanted to make sure we got him up on the mound, got him going. When you put a hitter in there and it’s a game, it’s different than throwing a side. He’s got work to do, we’re all a little rusty at this time of spring. But I thought he did fine.”

The rain did wipe out the anticipated debut of Justus Sheffield, the rookie left-hander acquired from the Yankees in the Paxton trade. Sheffield was slated to pitch two innings in relief of Gonzales, but now will have to wait at least a day to make his first appearance.

Up next

The Mariners are set to face the A’s again on Friday at 12:10 p.m. PT at Peoria Stadium, with Mike Leake scheduled to start.