Mariners dial up late homers after Felix's gem

March 25th, 2016

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Felix Hernandez began getting into his regular-season groove with six scoreless innings in the Mariners' eventual 5-4, 10-inning win over the White Sox in Friday's Cactus League action at Peoria Stadium. Former Mariners center fielder Austin Jackson launched a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh, but Nelson Cruz hit a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth and Leonys Martin launched a walk-off shot in the 10th.
First baseman Jose Abreu had two of the five hits against Hernandez with a double and single, but the White Sox didn't cross the plate against Seattle's ace. Hernandez had three strikeouts and no walks in an 80-pitch outing in his second-to-last spring appearance before he makes his ninth Opening Day start for Seattle on April 4 in Texas.

"That's pretty good," Hernandez said after pitching efficiently enough to get an extra inning of work. "They asked me if I could pitch one more and I said, 'Sure.' It's getting close to Opening Day, so it means a lot."
Left-hander Jose Quintana allowed just two hits and two runs (one earned) in his own six-inning outing, but the Mariners took advantage of some sloppy play early by the White Sox, who had two wild pitches, a balk and an error that led to both scores in the first.
"I'm really happy. I came back quick because it was a tough first inning," Quintana said. "But that's the point when you can come back, that's most important for the pitcher. Go long in the game. You know, try to keep the score close and get the win."

Quintana gave up just a Franklin Gutierrez single over his final five frames and finished with just the one walk and seven strikeouts in a 90-pitch outing.
Jackson, who played with Seattle in both 2014-15, pushed the White Sox ahead with his second homer of the spring in the seventh after Justin De Fratus loaded the bases on a single and two walks.
Hernandez worked around a two-out double by Abreu in the first, gave up singles to Avisail Garcia and Carlos Sanchez in the second, surrendered a single to Abreu in the third and a double off the wall by Travis Ishikawa in the fourth before zipping through the White Sox in order in the fifth and sixth.
"Melky Cabrera didn't play today, but they had a good lineup. I had to make good pitches because they're dangerous," said Hernandez, who figures he's right on target now with one final spring start Wednesday against the Padres. "I'm right where I want to be."
Up next for the White Sox: The White Sox have a rare Cactus League split-doubleheader on Saturday, hosting the Reds at 2:05 p.m. CT before moving to the visitor's dugout at Camelback Ranch against the Dodgers at 9:05 p.m. Both contests will be available on MLB.TV. Carlos Rodon gets the start in the afternoon game, with top prospect Carson Fulmer starting against the Dodgers. Jose Abreu will be playing in the night game, while Todd Frazier gets the afternoon start.
Up next for the Mariners: Left-hander Wade Miley faces Scott Kazmir of the Dodgers on Saturday in a 1:10 p.m. PT game at Peoria Stadium on MLB.TV. Miley, acquired by trade from the Red Sox, has posted a 5.40 ERA in three Cactus League outings as he prepares to start the year as Seattle's No. 3 starter.