MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray was through six innings Friday with a manageable pitch count. But a short spring training had left pitchers without time to build up their endurance, as Seattle manager Scott Servais was keenly aware.
So Servais told the new Mariners left-hander that he had three more hitters. Ray obliged with another quick inning – becoming the first starter to pitch seven this season – in an impressive debut.
Ray (1-0) surrendered just three hits, walked four and struck out five, and Mitch Haniger homered as Seattle opened with a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.
“Can’t say enough how impressed I was with him today and how we went about his business,” Servais said. “I think he and I are going to have quite a few conversations toward the end of games as it goes along, and I look forward to it. Great competitor, really excited to have him on the team.”
The 30-year-old Ray was just a part of the Mariners’ big offseason overhaul that saw the team also add former All-Stars Adam Frazier, Jesse Winker, Eugenio Suárez and Sergio Romo.
Ray made the opening day start after leaving Toronto and signing a five-year, $115 million contract with Seattle.
“I told Skip I was ready,” Ray said. “He said, ‘You got three batters.’ I said, ‘Done.’ I felt really good, still felt strong going into that seventh inning. So, really happy to get through it.”
Haniger is the longest-tenured Mariners player, having started with them in 2017. He connected for a two-run homer in the first inning off rookie Joe Ryan.
Drew Steckenrider allowed a leadoff hit in the ninth but secured the save after Gary Sánchez hit a towering flyball to the left-field wall.
“I thought it was gone, but today wasn’t the day,”
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