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Spring training update

Published 9:00 pm Monday, March 8, 2004

Mariners vs. Texas Rangers at Peoria Stadium, 1:05 p.m.

Radio: KOMO (1000 AM)

Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Gil Meche will pitch the first three innings, followed by left-handers Ron Villone and George Sherrill, and right-handers Clint Nageotte and Aaron Looper.

  • Vladimir Guerrero and Jose Guillen hit home runs on successive Matt Thornton pitches in the fifth inning to help lead the Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Mariners. Guerrero’s shot came with a man on.

    M’s starter Ryan Franklin pitched two scoreless innings in his first Cactus League outing of the spring. “He was outstanding,” Melvin said.

    Franklin faced eight batters, giving up two hits and striking out two.

    Shigetoshi Hasegawa retired all three batters he faced in the ninth, giving him two perfect innings this spring.

  • Jeff Heaverlo (minor strain under his arm) worked one inning in a simulated game and “threw the ball pretty good,” according to Melvin.

  • Edgar Martinez (stiff neck) walked into the clubhouse and declared himself fit to play. “I can hit,” he said, turning his head to the left. “If I was a lefty, I’d be in trouble. I could play today.”

    The trainer decided to hold him out another day.

  • Rafael Soriano (strained left internal oblique) played catch and Melvin said “everything was fine.”

  • “I don’t even know that Boonie’s aware that somebody new is over at shortstop, to tell you the truth. He is in a way, but with him, it doesn’t matter much. It’s more Rich getting used to him.”

    Manager Bob Melvin on the ease with which second baseman Bret Boone is acclimating to his new shortstop, Rich Aurilia.

  • Melvin was perturbed about the home runs that Thornton gave up on back-to-back pitches, both changeups.

    “That’s probably his third (best) pitch,” Melvin said. “The guy behind the plate’s got to lead him some, too.”

    Ben Davis was catching at the time and was made aware of the fact that he’s got to take charge.

    Thornton had a deadly fastball that the Angels’ Troy Glaus told M’s third-base coach Dave Myers “looked like he was throwing 100 mph.”

    “He’s got to put the two homers away and understand that he overmatched some guys with his fastball,” Melvin said. “A lot of these guys were behind his fastball and probably in counts when they’re looking to hit his fastball, so he has to feel good about that.”

    Melvin was also disturbed that Thornton issued a walk on a 3-2 slider with two out and nobody on in the fourth. “It’s one thing if it’s one of our guys who’s going to be out there (when the season starts) trying to work on something, but also he’s got to be led by the guy behind the plate in that situation and that’s not the right pitch there.”

    Larry Henry, Herald Writer

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