Mariners manager Scott Servais responded to Trevor Bauer’s assessment of his Monday performance against Seattle, including three homers in the fifth inning that ended the reigning National League Cy Young Award-winner’s night.
After Evan White, José Marmolejos and Mitch Haniger homered on him in his last inning, Bauer told reporters about his performance, “I got out what I wanted. In the fifth inning, there was really no sequencing or anything. I just threw fields. That’s not really a good frame of mind when you’re trying to get guys out. But I was just finishing the night and trying to add up my pitch. “
On Tuesday, when Servais described the Mariners’ offensive improvements over the past week, he mimicked Bauer’s reaction when talking about his own team.
“Sure, Bauer was at his best early on,” said Servais. “I just wanted everyone to know that our boys weren’t trying the first four innings. We decided to try it in the fifth inning last night, and it worked. Our boys started to try.
“I know he said he might not try in the fifth, but our boys tried in the fifth. We just didn’t take it seriously for the first three or four innings. “
“No, our boys closed the first four innings with one eye. We also tried to breathe through our lids as we focus on different things that will help us over the years. I just want to make it [sure] everyone understood that they weren’t trying the first four innings. “
Seattle was Bauer’s toughest opponent this spring, at least in the box score. In 7 2/3 innings against the Mariners, Bauer gave up nine hits, six earned runs and four walks.
There is a chance that Bauer can meet the Mariners next month. The Dodgers visit T-Mobile Park for a series of two games from April 19-20.