Cal Raleigh, Ryan Bliss provide big blasts, Mariners edge Reds in Cactus League game

After starter Jhonathan Diaz gave up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, which started with an electric triple from Elly De La Cruz, the Mariners answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Julio Rodriguez worked a one-out walk off Reds starter Nick Martinez and scored on Jorge Polanco’s double off the wall in center. Later with two outs in the inning, Cal Raleigh sent a line drive over the wall in right-center for a two-run homer. It was his fourth homer of the spring, tying him with Mitch Haniger for the team lead.

Diaz, who will pitch in Class AAA Tacoma’s rotation, pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

He was the recipient of the Mike Ford revenge tour this spring training. The former Mariner designated hitter is trying to make the Reds’ roster. If he faced the Mariners every game, he’d be a lock.

Ford smashed a solo homer off Diaz in the second inning to tie the game at 3-3. The Reds took the lead in the fifth. Will Benson hit a solo homer off Tayler Saucedo and Ford hit his second homer of the game — another solo blast — two batters later.

In 10 games this spring, Ford has 15 hits in 33 at-bats (.455 batting average) with three homers and eight RBI with two walks and three strikeouts. Five of those hits came against the Mariners in seven at-bats.

The Mariners got an outstanding pitching performance from minor-leaguer Ty Cummings. The right-hander was selected in the seventh round out of Campbell University in the 2023 draft. He didn’t pitch last season due to heavy usage. In his second appearance of the spring, Cummings tossed two innings, allowing one run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout.

Player of the game

Ryan Bliss brought the crowd of 10,415 — the largest home crowd of the spring — to its feet in the bottom of seventh inning, which the Mariners entered trailing 5-3. He crushed a fastball from lefty Sam Moll deep into the night. The towering blast landed high up on the berm in left field for a three-run homer.

Bliss has 12 hits in 36 at-bats with three doubles, a homer, nine RBI, two walks and 11 strikeouts.

Quotable

“Ryan’s had a good camp. He can do some things offensively. He still has a few things to work on, but he’s versatile and he’s handled what we’ve thrown at him. He does have some pop for a little guy.” — Seattle manager Scott Servais

On tap

The Mariners will have a pair of split-squad games Friday afternoon, which is unusual for this late in spring and not very ideal for Servais and his players.

In one game, a portion of the Mariners will play the Brewers at Peoria Stadium with right-hander Luis Castillo getting the start for Seattle. Milwaukee will start right-hander Freddy Peralta. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. The game will be live-streamed via webcast on mariners.com and the Mariners YouTube. The live radio broadcast will be carried on the stream as well as on Seattle Sports 710-AM

Across the valley at Salt River Fields, another squad of Mariners will face the Arizona Diamondbacks. Right-hander Emerson Hancock will get the start for Seattle while Arizona will start right-hander Ryne Nelson. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m