A daily look at the Mariners in spring training.
Tuesday in camp
Set aside, at least for one spectacular day, concerns about Jamie Moyer.
The 42-year-old left-hander produced the Mariners’ cleanest outing of spring training Tuesday, holding the Oakland A’s to one hit in five innings of an 11-4 victory.
Moyer allowed only Nick Swisher’s third-inning single and pitched one more inning than he was scheduled because his pitch count was so low. He’s the first Mariner to pitch five innings.
“To the belief that you don’t necessarily have to push yourself early on, we’re getting to the middle of spring training,” Moyer said. “Each pitch and each outing has a little more meaning to the preparation for the season. I’d rather force it and be on the tired side than be on the fresh side.”
Moyer threw 75 pitches, 28 more than his previous outing, and had the A’s either looking at strikes or getting the bad part of the bat on his offerings. Moyer struck out five, three on called third strikes, walked three and allowed only Mark Kotsay’s sacrifice fly in the third inning. He walked his first two hitters in the fifth, then got the next three.
“He likes to feel like each outing he’s pushed a little bit further, like there’s some sense of having to labor to get those last few hitters,” pitching coach Bryan Price said. “He feels that prepares him physically and mentally for those tight situations in the regular season.”
The Mariners jumped on A’s starter Barry Zito early, scoring three runs in the second inning, three in the third and stinging the Oakland left-hander with seven hits. Zito hadn’t allowed a hit until Tuesday.
Outfielder Shin-soo Choo went 3-for-4 and scored twice and first baseman Greg Dobbs 1-for-2 with two runs and an RBI.
Today in camp
The game: Mariners vs. San Francisco Giants, 11:05 a.m. (PST) in Peoria.
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM).
TV: ESPN2 (cable).
Of note: The game will start one hour earlier than normal because of ESPN2’s telecast. Right-hander Gil Meche will start for the Mariners, followed by left-handers Bobby Madritsch and Matt Thornton. Left-hander Kirk Rueter will start for the Giants.
This morning, the Mariners will play an intrasquad game, with pitchers Scott Atchison, Julio Mateo and George Sherrill getting the work.
On the trainer’s table
Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki was held out of Tuesday’s game with a sore left foot after he fouled a ball off it Monday. He is expected to return today.
First baseman Richie Sexson has a sore quad muscle and didn’t play Tuesday.
Pitcher Joel Pineiro threw off flat ground as he comes back from a sore shoulder, and he may throw off the bullpen mound today.
Closer Eddie Guardado, coming back from a strained right hamstring, also threw off flat ground and expects to pitch off the bullpen mound Friday.
Weather
Bundle up if you’ve got a 7 a.m. tee time. The temperature early Tuesday morning was in the mid-40s, warming to the upper 60s in the afternoon. It’s not supposed to be much warmer today, although the high is expected to creep past 70 for the first time since last weekend.
They said it
“We’re always careful with Jamie. We never let him stand in the outfield too long or he might start to petrify.”
M’s pitching coach Bryan Price on 42-year-old Jamie Moyer.
They did it
Two memorable men from the Mariners’ forgettable 2004 season visited with their old mates Tuesday when the A’s played in Peoria. Rene Lachemann, the M’s bench coach last year, is working in the same role for the A’s this year, and backup outfielder Hiram Bocachica is hoping to make Oakland’s roster.
Kirby Arnold, Herald writer
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