The Mariners started their exhibition season with a 4-3 loss to the Padres, falling in the 10th inning when Kyle Banks hit an RBI double off right-hander Stephen Kahn.
It was a game of good and bad for the Mariners.
Ryan Rowland-Smith looked decent in two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk but getting out of those jams. He struggled with his fastball command in the first innng but seemed to find himself and pitched a 1-2-3 second, aided by catcher Jeff Clement. He threw out Edgar Gonzalez trying to steal second after a leadoff single.
M’s catcher Rob Johnson tied the score in the top of the ninth with a solo home run.
Manager Don Wakamatsu seemed pleased at the Mariners’ aggressiveness on the bases but disappointed at some of their execution.
Franklin Gutierrez dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to help set up a run in the second inning, but Callix Crabbe struck out with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, when the M’s didn’t score.
In the 10th, Greg Halman drew a leadoff walk and stole second. But, with Oswaldo Navarro at the plate hoping to bunt him over to third, Halman broke too soon to third base and was an easy first out. Navarro had little chance to protect him on a pitch well out of the strike zone.
After the game, Wakamatsu said Ken Griffey Jr. wouldn’t play until next Wednesday night against Australia’s WBC team. That game will be televised on FSN.
Griffey has looked good in the daily workouts since he joined the team Sunday and Wakamatsu said he could be able to play sooner, but the Mariners are being extremely cautious. It’s a longer-than-usual spring training this year and the goal is to have Griffey ready for opening day April 6.
When Griffey does start playing, it’ll be at DH until Wakamatsu feels comfortable putting him in left field.
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