Courtesy Seattle Mariners
PEORIA, Ariz. – Starting pitcher Felix Hernandez tossed 6.0 scoreless innings and catcher Kelly Shoppach hit a solo home run in a 3-1 win over the San
Diego Padres Friday night in Cactus League play at Peoria Stadium.
The Mariners improved to 18-8 in Cactus League play and have the
second-most wins amongst all teams in spring training play trailing only the
Kansas City Royals (19-6-1).
Felix Hernandez, who will be the Mariners Opening Day
starter, tossed 6.0 scoreless innings his third official start of Spring
Training, but didn't figure into the decision after leaving with a 1-0 lead. He allowed only 2 hits
and struck out 9 batters, while walking none in his longest outing this spring.
The right-hander faced 20 batters, retiring the final 13 he faced.
Relief pitcher Danny Farquhar (1-0) recorded his first win, despite allowing a solo home run
to first baseman Yonder Alonso in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the
game. Right-handed pitcher Kameron Loe tossed a scoreless 8th
inning, while Carter Cappspicked up his first
save after striking out the side in the 9th.
Catcher Kelly Shoppach gave the Mariners an
early 1-0 lead with a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning, his first
homer of the spring. The home run marked the 47th longball hit by the Mariners,
tying for the second-most (also in 2009) in franchise history during spring
play.
In the top of the 8th inning minor league shortstop Chris Taylor, the Mariners 5th-round draft pick out of the
University of Virginia last June, broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out two-run RBI
single on a full count that put the Mariners on top 3-1.
The Mariners out-hit the Padres 9-4, with Kyle Seager (2x3, 2B, 2 BB), Michael Morse (2x4, R, BB) and Dustin Ackley (2x4) each recording multi-hit games.
The Mariners (18-8) continue Cactus League play tomorrow with
home game vs. the Cleveland Indians at Peoria Stadium at 1:05 p.m. The game
will be televised on ROOT Sports and broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle and the
Mariners Radio Network. Right-handerBlake
Beavan (1-0, 3.86) is
scheduled to appear in his fifth Cactus League game and fourth start against
Indians left-hander Scott Kazmir (0-0, 0.00).
