10 a.m. UPDATE: Just got the Padres’ starting lineup, and there are a couple of familiar names. Former Mariner Guillermo Quiroz starts at catcher and former Everett CC star Aaron Cunningham starts in right field. Here’s the Padres’ lineup:
Will Venable, center field
Jason Bartlett, shortstop
Jorge Cantu, third base
Ryan Ludwick, left field
Orlando Hudson, second base
Oscar Salazar, DH
Jesus Guzman, first base
Aaron Cunningham, right field
Guillermo Quiroz, catcher
Left-hander Wade LeBlanc, starting pitcher
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Nice to be back at the ballpark after a couple of days off to be a NASCAR fan. Hopefully, the crashing and burning we saw this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway won’t continue this year at Safeco Field (insert your favorite Ricky Bobby scene here).
With that, the Mariners take to the Peoria Stadium confines this afternoon for Game 2 of their spring training grudge match against the San Diego Padres. This one is of high importance because a Mariners victory would give them the mythical Peoria Stadium championship over Padres, who share the ballpark at spring training.
Unlike previous years when the Mariners and Padres played each other a half-dozen times or more, these two teams face each other only three times at spring training this year. Win today and the Mariners can claim a championship for the first time since 2001. Lose, and the whole bag of marbles is at stake March 20.
OK, maybe we’re making more out of this than necessary since these teams play six regular-season games, but it’s still a big day for Mariners starter Doug Fister. He’s scheduled to pitch two innings in his first exhibition start. Behind Fister will be a lineup out to carry on the Mariners’ one-day-old tradition of massive offense, established in Sunday’s 13-run burst against the Padres. Here are today’s Mariners starters:
Josh Wilson, second base
Brendan Ryan, shortstop
Justin Smoak, first base
Jack Cust, DH
Gabe Gross, right field
Michael Saunders, left field
Matt Tuiasosopo, third base
Adam Moore, catcher
Greg Halman, center field
Besides Fister, others on the Mariners’ pitching list for today are David Pauley, Brandon League, Chris Ray, Garrett Olson, Chris Seddon, Fabio Castro, Josh Lueke and Yoervis Medina.
Still no Franklin Gutierrez in center field, although he could be in there Tuesday when the Mariners face the defending AL-champion Texas Rangers. Gutierrez missed two days of practice last week when he went back to Seattle for tests on his stomach.
One other note: Keith Law of ESPN.com has Tweeted that the Mariners are close to signing left-handed pitcher Jamex Paxton, who they drafted in the fourth round last year. Nothing official from the Mariners on it yet, although we understand an agreement is close. The Toronto Blue Jays drafted Paxton in the supplemental round in 2009 but never reached agreement with him.
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