This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Michelle Moore is a Los Angeles Angels fan, her jersey advertised as much. But, at least for one day, the Moore family adopted the Colorado Rockies.
"I just enjoy baseball," said the American Fork resident, autograph book and camera in hand, hoping for a moment with a Major League Baseball player.
Moore wasn't alone. A capacity crowd of 15,411 spectators shared her passions Saturday as the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners officially concluded their spring training with a historic game at Spring Mobile Ballpark.
And the fans got their money's worth. The starters received at least two at-bats, and Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki crushed a ball almost to Main Street, followed by a Todd Helton four-bagger.
The game, eventually won by Seattle, 4-3, sold out within an hour of its announcement. It was the first meeting of two major league teams in Salt Lake City since 1970 when San Diego and Oakland came to town.
Former Salt Lake Bee Kendrys Morales, now a Mariner, started the scoring with a home run to left in the fourth.
"I spent a lot of time here, three seasons, and really enjoyed it," Morales said. "This was where I prepared and learned how to be a better baseball player. I knew I was one step away from the big leagues and I was focused on becoming a better baseball player during my time here."
And, with blue skies and temperatures threatening 70, it was a glorious day for baseball.
"We timed it perfect," said Mariners first base coach and former Salt Lake Stingers manager Mike Brumley. "I called it. I said it could be 65 or 30 [degrees]. You got enough snow to turn everything green."
Mostly, however, it was a game to survive before moving on to Monday's respective season openers. Seattle takes a short flight to Oakland, while the Rockies head to Milwaukee.
"Stay healthy," said Colorado right fielder Michael Cuddyer. "Don't get hurt in this game."
However, some fears were nearly realized when, in the top of the third, Cuddyer knocked the wind out of second baseman Josh Rutledge while both pursued a short pop by Seattle catcher Jesus Montero.
"He took a big shot from Cuddy, who's a big boy," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "I told Cuddy if this was the NFL, they would have fined him."
Earlier, Salt Lake Bees general manager Marc Amicone compared this game to a concert, a one-time event.
In anticipation, the gates opened at 10:30 a.m. and hundreds of young fans with gloves lined the outfield wall in hopes of catching a long one during batting practice.
"We realize as an organization that we have a lot of fans here," Tulowitzki said. "It's so nice to get to come here. … Our fans can see us live; sign as many autographs as you possibly can and keep them on your side.
"Thinking about it, it's pretty cool for this area for people to see this caliber of baseball. I'm excited for them to get to watch some good players."
Justin Okerlund sure thought so. He brought his family from tiny Monroe. It was a shorter trip than Denver, though the family has a trip planned for there later this summer.
"It's great to be here," he said.
He wasn't alone.
Storylines Mariners 4, Rockies 3
R Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton hit homers for Colorado. Former Salt Lake Bee Kendrys Morales goes deep for Seattle.
• Excluding starting pitching, Colorado and Seattle featured opening-day lineups.
• Seattle's Raul Ibanez drives in go-ahead run with an eighth-inning single as both teams combine for 14 hits. Mariners 4, Rockies 3
Seattle AB R H BI F.Gutierrez cf 2 0 0 0
En.Chavez cf 2 0 0 0
M.Saunders rf 2 0 0 0
Bay rf 1 1 0 0
K.Morales dh 2 1 1 1
Zunino pr-dh 1 1 1 0
Morse lf 2 0 0 0
Ibanez lf 1 0 0 1
Seager 3b 2 0 0 0
B.Miller 3b 2 0 2 1
Smoak 1b 4 1 1 1
J.Montero c 2 0 1 0
Shoppach c 2 0 0 0
Ackley 2b 4 0 0 0
Ryan ss 2 0 1 0
Andino ss 2 0 0 0
Totals 33 4 7 4
Colorado AB R H BI E.Young dh 2 0 1 0
Iribarren ph-dh 2 0 0 0
Fowler cf 2 0 0 0
D.Kandilas cf 1 1 0 0
C.Gonzalez lf 2 0 0 0
F.Sosa lf-rf-lf 2 0 1 0
Tulowitzki ss 2 1 1 1
Pacheco lf-c 2 0 0 0
Cuddyer rf 2 0 0 0
J.Ribera 1b 2 0 1 1
Helton 1b 2 1 2 1
J.Herrera ss 2 0 0 0
Rosario c 1 0 0 0
Torrealba c 1 0 0 0
McBride rf 2 0 0 0
Rutledge 2b 1 0 0 0
Culberson 2b 2 0 0 0
Brignac 3b 1 0 1 0
T.Smalling 3b 2 0 0 0
Totals 33 3 7 3
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Seattle 000 110 020 — 4 7
Colorado 000 200 010 — 3 7
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E—Ackley 2 (4), F.Sosa (1). LOB—Seattle 5, Colorado 7. 2B—B.Miller (4), Ryan (2), Helton (4). 3B—J.Montero (1). HR—K.Morales (7), Smoak (5), Tulowitzki (3), Helton (3). CS—E.Young (2). S—E.Young. SF—Ibanez.
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Seattle IP H R ER BB SO
Maurer 4 4 2 2 1 3
Wilhelmsen 1 1 0 0 0 0
O.Perez 1 0 0 0 0 1
Pryor W,1-0 1 0 0 0 0 0
Farquhar 1 2 1 1 1 2
Sweeney S,1-1 1 0 0 0 1 1
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Colorado IP H R ER BB SO
Francis 6 5 2 2 1 2
J.Sullivan 1 0 0 0 0 2
Brothers L,0-1 1⁄3 0 1 1 1 1
Belisle 2⁄3 2 1 1 0 0
R.Betancourt 1⁄3 0 0 0 0 1
W.Lopez 2⁄3 0 0 0 0 0
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Umpires—Home, Cory Blaser First, Scott Barry Second, Allen Bailey Third, Brian Hertzog.
T—2:43. A—15,411 (15,500).