Walker throws 3 shutout innings as Mariners top D-backs 11-4

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Taijuan Walker pitched three shutout innings, leading the Seattle Mariners past an Arizona Diamondbacks split-squad 11-4 on Saturday.

Kyle Seager drove in two runs and had two sacrifice flies, and Rickie Weeks hit two doubles.

Walker struck out two and walked one without allowing a hit in his outing.

''He probably pumped a few too many first-pitch fastballs, but he had great command,'' manager Lloyd McClendon said. ''He's come a long way from September. He's grown quite a bit.''

Walker had a scary moment, though, with the final batter he faced. Cliff Pennington lined a belt-high liner back at Walker, who was able to knock the ball down and make the play without getting hurt.

''Everything is good,'' he said. ''It hit the glove and then my stomach.''

Diamondbacks starter Rubby De La Rosa walked in a run in the second to start the scoring. In the third, the Mariners added two runs - the first on a sacrifice fly by Seager, the second on Dustin Ackley's single. Seager drove in another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly.

''Seager swung the bat extremely well,'' McClendon said.

Arizona scored twice each in the fifth and eighth innings, but the Mariners had a six-run ninth to put the game away.

For the Diamondbacks, De La Rosa had a disappointing outing - he walked four batters in three innings while allowing three runs - after raising hopes with two outstanding stints in which he allowed no runs in five innings.

''Something was different,'' manager Chip Hale said. ''He didn't throw as many strikes.

''That's what happens (when) you start stretching these guys out. They get one or two innings and can just let it fly. They have to figure out how to pitch to get through more innings.

''We're just seeing some chinks in the armor. We have to fix it. It's our job.''

STARTING TIME

Mariners: Other than his walk, Walker - a candidate for the final spot in the rotation - allowed only one other baserunner which came on a two-base error by Seager.

''This year, I'm better at keeping my composure if people get on,'' Walker said. ''I try to work to get groundballs to get easy outs.''

Diamondbacks: De La Rosa, a candidate for the starting rotation, struggled and said he was rushing his delivery. He didn't consider the results a big deal.

''The first inning was lights out, the second inning got away a little bit, but I just told him I thought he kept his emotions really level,'' catcher Tuffy Gosewisch said. ''He didn't let things get out of control. Sometimes you're going to have outings like that, but you can still go five or six innings and give up three (runs). That's the key.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mariners: Infielder Chris Taylor broke a bone in his right wrist and is expected to be out 4-to-6 weeks after fouling off a pitch in a game vs. Milwaukee on Friday, the Mariners said Saturday. He singled on the next pitch, but had to come out of the game.

Taylor had been competing with Brad Miller for the Mariners' starting shortstop job. Taylor hit .287 in 47 games last season. Taylor broke the triquetrum bone, said Jack Zduriencik, the Mariners' executive vice president and general manager of baseball operations. Though the pitch was ruled a foul ball, Taylor told Mariners' officials that the pitch hit his wrist.

Taylor was hitting .421 on the spring.

''It's tough news,'' manager Lloyd McClendon said. ''He's worked extremely hard. ... You just hate to see the competition end in this way.''

Diamondbacks: Reliever Matt Reynolds, who missed 2014 after having Tommy John surgery, pitched a scoreless fourth inning, allowing one hit.

UP NEXT

Mariners: Roenis Elias will start vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday in Peoria.

Diamondbacks: Archie Bradley will start at San Francisco on Sunday.