The longest winning streak — 10 games — in the Mariners’ Cactus League history came to an end Wednesday when the Milwaukee Brewers roughed up Seattle starter Blake Beavan for six hits and three runs in three innings and went on to a 7-6 victory in Peoria. The Brewers, 83-79 and third in the NL Central last year, battered five Seattle pitchers for 15 hits, including three homers.
Although the Mariners lost, they continued their own home run rampage, getting long balls from Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales. Seattle raised its total to 26, most by any team in the majors. The two homers Wednesday marked the ninth consecutive game with two or more homers.
“I think half of the way we’re playing is because guys are relaxed and confident and they’re believing in their abilities,” said Morse. “And everybody is playing within their abilities. It’s something we have to remember, bottle up and carry over to the season.”
The Brewers banged three home runs, including the go-ahead blast by minor league outfielder Cole Garner off reliever Charlie Furbush, which gave Milwaukee a 7-6 lead in the top of the eighth inning.
Milwaukee’s first two homers, by Hunter Morris and Khris Davis, came off Beavan.
The Mariners had their big inning in the fifth, when they scored four times off reliever Johnny Hellweg. The big blow of the frame was Morales’ two-run bomb. That gave Seattle a 6-3 lead, but Milwaukee came back with three runs in the seventh off Josh Kinney.
Felix Hernandez will make his spring training debut Thursday when the Mariners face the Kansas City Royals in Surprise. Hernandez is expected to throw two innings while Hisashi Iwakuma will follow with three innings.
The Mariners will play a split squad game Thursday. The other half of the club will travel to Phoenix to face the Oakland Athletics. RHP Brandon Maurer will start for Seattle.