SEATTLE — In terms of what was expected and what was returned, Adam Lind’s 2016 season with the Seattle Mariners — likely his only one — never reached quite what was hoped for when he was acquired in the offseason.
General manager Jerry Dipoto traded a pair of low-level minor-leaguers to the Brewers for Lind in hopes of providing high-level production as part of a platoon at first base.
That didn’t really happen this season. But on Wednesday night, Lind offered another glimpse of what might have been if he had put his potential into a long consistent stretch.
Lind belted a pair of homers off Rangers starter A.J. Griffin, including a first-inning grand slam, to lead Seattle to a 8-3 victory over the Rangers at Safeco Field
The Mariners improved to 71-68, giving their fading hopes a hint of a pulse. Wins against Texas haven’t come easy this season for Seattle.
It was just the Mariners’ sixth win in 18 games against the Rangers this season. The timing of many of those losses is a reason why the Mariners could again miss out on the postseason. The teams wrap up their season series today at Safeco Field.
Facing a right-handed starting pitcher for a refreshing change, the Mariners jumped on Griffin immediately.
Unlikely leadoff hitter Seth Smith doubled to start the game — his first of four times to reach base — and scored on Ketel Marte’s single to right. The Mariners then loaded the bases with one out for Lind.
He got on top of a chest-high 89 mph fastball from Griffin, swatting it into the seats in center field for his 19th homer of the season and fourth career grand slam.
Unlike past games where they actually had leads, the Mariners continued to build on the 5-0 margin in subsequent innings. They added another run in the second on a sacrifice fly from Nelson Cruz after loading the bases on three straight one-out walks.
Lind’s second at-bat came in the third inning, again he got another 89 mph fastball up in the strike zone and still was able to handle it with ease, driving the pitch over the wall in left field to give him 20 homers and 57 RBI on the season.
A season with 20 homers isn’t below average. It equals the number Lind hit last year with the Brewers. But he also hit .277 with a .360 on-base percentage, 32 doubles, 66 walks, and 87 RBI a year ago. This season, he’s hitting .231 with a .272 on-base percentage and has just 14 doubles, 18 walks and 57 RBI.
Lind showed signs of being that productive hitter. But inconsistent playing time because of stretches of left-handed starting pitching didn’t help him find a rhythm.
It’s less than ideal for Lind, who will be a free agent after the season.
Mariners starter Ariel Miranda took advantage of the run support, throwing strikes and limiting free base runners. He pitched the first five innings scoreless before giving up a three-run homer to Carlos Beltran in the sixth inning.
He finished out the inning, giving him six innings pitched in the win and left after issuing a walk in the seventh. He allowed the three runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts to improve to 3-1.
