GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Carlos Peguero made the most noise at Goodyear Ballpark. Until the beeping began, that is.
Peguero hit two home runs and the Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians 5-1 Wednesday in an exhibition game delayed for 5 minutes by a false alarm.
An emergency evacuation warning went off in the eighth inning. An alarm beeped loudly throughout the stadium and an automated voice over the public address system repeatedly gave instructions to leave the ballpark.
Umpires huddled, players looked at one another and a few fans cleared the stands.
“That was a first for me,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. “I was looking around like everybody else, wondering what was going on.”
So did Indians manager Terry Francona.
“The fourth time, when the guy said walk (to the exits), I said forget that, I’m running,” he said.
The scoreboard soon flashed “False Alarm” and play resumed.
Mariners prospects Danny Hultzen and Taijuan Walker combined to pitch four scoreless innings.
Hultzen, a 2011 first-round pick, struck out four over two innings.
“Danny has been impressive early on,” Wedge said of the left-hander, who gave up one hit and walked two. “All of our young pitchers have handled themselves very well.”
Walker, a 2010 supplemental first-round choice, fanned two over two hitless innings with one walk.
Wedge is looking for something other than strikeouts and perfect innings, however.
“I don’t get caught up in numbers,” he said. “It’s more about their stuff and the way they handle themselves. You don’t want them to try and do too much.”
Veteran Brett Myers threw a free-and-easy three innings for Cleveland. He gave up two hits, including Peguero’s first homer. He also got seven outs on ground balls.
“I feel fine, threw well, then the ball got a little slippery in the third inning,” Myers said.
Signed as a free agent, Myers is back starting after working exclusively in relief 70 times for Houston and the Chicago White Sox last season. He spent the previous 10 years as a starter for Philadelphia and the Astros.
Myers said he is more comfortable starting, but went to the bullpen when asked in 2012.
“I love the game,” Myers said. “I’ll do whatever, even if they ask me to play second base.”
Peguero also homered in a three-run fourth against Corey Kluber.
Wedge wants the outfielder to be more patient at the plate. The 26-year-old Peguero has eight homers, but only nine walks and 82 strikeouts in 199 big-league at-bats.
NOTES: Seattle is 6-0-2 against the Indians since Cleveland moved its spring home to Arizona in 2009. … Cleveland RHP Joe Smith, recovering from a left oblique strain, is scheduled to throw batting practice and RHP Carlos Carrasco, who had Tommy John surgery in September 2011, is scheduled to work in a simulated game on Thursday. … In honor of third base coach Jeff Datz, whose nickname is “The Polar Bear,” the Mariners’ game notes pointed out that Wednesday was National Polar Bear Day.
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