The Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays opened up a three game series at Tropicana Field on Monday with the Mariners getting the win 4-1 on Memorial Day. Robinson Cano looked like his old self, which is quite a pleasant sight for the Mariners.

Seattle starter Roenis Elias had another very good outing for Seattle as he went six innings giving up just one run on six hits while striking out six and walking three. Elias continued to impress since he was brought up after starting the season in AAA Tacoma.

The Rays got another quality outing from starter Jake Odorizzi. He toed the slab for seven innings and gave up two runs (1 ER) on just five hits while striking out seven and walking two. Odorizzi settled in after the first inning where he gave up two runs.

As previously mentioned, the Mariners scored their first two runs of the ballgame in the first inning behind RBI singles from Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz. Kyle Seager also checked in with a good game as he was 1 for 3 with a double and Seth Smith was 2 for 5 with two doubles.

The Rays cut Seattle’s lead in half in the sixth when Logan Forsythe clobbered a home run to left field which made it 2-1. Jake Elmore was the only Rays batter with a multi-hit game as he was 2 for 2 with a walk and two doubles.

Seattle got some insurance in the eighth inning on another RBI single by Cano to make it 3-1 and then a solo home run in the ninth inning by Mike Zunino made it 4-1.

Robinson Cano badly needed a game like this after the struggles he has gone through at the plate. After Sunday’s game at Toronto, he was only hitting .247 with just 10 RBI. Maybe this is the beginning of his turn around that seems like is about to happen.

It was a save situation and we all know that meant another edition of the ‘Fernando Rodney Experience’ in the bottom of the ninth inning. Rodney gave up a hit after retiring the first two batters, but in the end it was an easy ninth inning as he closed down the ballgame to get the win for Seattle.

After the ballgame, the Mariners optioned reliever Danny Farquhar to AAA and activated center fielder Austin Jackson from the DL who has been out with a sprained ankle.

The Mariners have won three of their last four and will send lefty J.A. Happ to the mound and he will face Alex Colome for the Rays in game two of this three game series in St. Petersburg.

WP: Roenis Elias (2-1, 2.56 ERA)

LP: Jake Odorizzi (3-5, 2.31 ERA)

SV: Fernando Rodney (13, 5.89 ERA)

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About the author
Josh Eastern
I live in Seattle, Washington and attend Indiana University as a journalism major. You can follow me on Twitter (@JoshEastern) and feel free to email me at [email protected] with any questions/thoughts.