CLEVELAND: In a matchup of two of the more promising starting pitchers in the American League, the Indians’ Danny Salazar and the Seattle Mariners’ Taijuan Walker didn’t disappoint. Salazar, 26, and Walker, 23, have represented high-ceiling starters who have either taken the first step — as Salazar did last season — or appear to be on the verge of doing so — as Walker showed Wednesday night at Progressive Field.
Both were strong, though Walker got the best of Salazar in the Mariners’ 2-1 win over the Indians (6-6).
The Mariners (6-8) had one scoring play, and it was enough. Adam Lind singled and Chris Iannetta walked to open the second inning before Salazar quickly recorded two outs. Nori Aoki then ripped a two-out, two-run triple into the corner in right field. It got past a diving Mike Napoli and then rattled around in the corner before Lonnie Chisenhall, making his season debut in right field, bobbled it.
Salazar (2-1) went on to retire the next 11 batters he faced and allowed only three hits and three walks in seven innings with seven strikeouts. But Walker, who has been on the cusp of taking a step forward in his career for a year or two, was equal to the task of protecting the Mariners’ 2-0 lead.
“I thought both starters were good,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Two young, good right-handers. … [Salazar] fell behind 2-1 to Aoki and tried to go down and away with a fastball and it ran over the middle and he hooked it. Those are their runs, and they made it hold up.”
Walker (1-0) threw six innings, gave up three hits, walked six and struck out six. The Indians’ lone run came in the bottom of the third inning, when Tyler Naquin scored on a sacrifice fly by Jason Kipnis.
From that point, Salazar didn’t allow another hit and Walker and the Mariners’ bullpen kept it a one-run game.
Two base-running mistakes might have kept runs off the board for the Indians. In that third inning, Juan Uribe opened with a double but after Naquin hit a soft ground ball back to the mound, Uribe was caught leaning too far off second base and was tagged out in a rundown. In the seventh inning, Uribe walked with two outs and Rajai Davis came on to pinch run but was picked off by relief pitcher Joel Peralta, to end the inning.
The Indians had another chance in the eighth inning. Facing Mariners relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit, Naquin opened the inning with a single to left field. Jose Ramirez tried to advance him to second base but bunted it back to Benoit, who threw out Naquin at second base. Ramirez eventually advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Kipnis lined out and Francisco Lindor grounded out to end the inning.
Steve Cishek retired the Indians in order in the ninth for the save.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ.