PEORIA, Ariz. — Erik Bedard’s comeback is just about complete.
Bedard pitched five effective innings, Milton Bradley hit a two-run single and the Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Sunday.
Bedard allowed one run — Brad Hawpe’s homer in the second — and five hits in his longest outing of spring training. He struck out two and walked one.
“He threw the ball well. It’s a lot of the same that we’ve been seeing all spring,” manager Eric Wedge said. “Very efficient with his pitches, using all his pitches, under control, controlled the ballgame, which is what you want to have out of your starting pitcher.”
Bedard is on schedule to open the season in Seattle’s rotation. The left-hander had shoulder problems last year and hasn’t appeared in a major league game since July 2009.
Bradley drove in Brendan Ryan and Ichiro Suzuki with his two-out hit off the top of third baseman Jorge Cantu’s glove in the fifth inning. He is batting .345 (10 for 29) this spring with a team-leading nine RBIs.
“He’s doing a good job of sticking with his approach,” Wedge said.
Wade LeBlanc gave up three runs and five hits in six innings for the Padres. The left-hander struck out five and walked one.
“The good thing about it is I made pitches. You can’t really do anything about the results,” he said. “The quality of pitches was there so it’s a good thing to build on.”
Jack Cust and Josh Bard also had run-scoring singles for the Mariners.
NOTES: The Padres claimed reliever Pat Neshek off waivers. Neshek had a 4.26 ERA in six games for the Minnesota Twins this spring. … San Diego optioned RHP Samuel Deduno and OF Luis Durango to Triple-A Tucson. … Mariners C Miguel Olivo’s rehabilitation from a strained groin apparently is progressing well. He threw to second and third base from home plate Sunday and has been catching bullpen sessions and taking batting practice.
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