Miller, Happ lead Mariners over Rockies 5-4
PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) J.A. Happ's best outing of spring training and Brad Miller's two-run triple helped the Seattle Mariners defeat the Colorado Rockies 5-4 Friday night.
Happ, set to start the fourth or fifth game of the season, threw four scoreless innings of two-hit ball, striking out four and walking two. Coming in, he had allowed 12 earned runs in 13 2-3 innings overall.
''My tempo was where it should be, just a notch quicker,'' Happ said. ''I felt like the energy and intensity was there for me.''
The left-hander also escaped serious injury when he was struck inside the right elbow by a comebacker off the bat of Corey Dickerson in the third inning.
Seattle tagged Rockies starter Jordan Lyles for three runs in 1 1-3 innings. Lyles walked three and threw a wild pitch.
''It's tough to end (spring training) on that kind of outing, but everything's good,'' Lyles said.
He'll pitch Tuesday in the Rockies' second regular-season game after what he compared to a bullpen session Friday.
''Having a tuneup like that is fine before he goes into his first start,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
Charlie Blackmon, Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez had run-scoring singles in the fifth against the Mariners' bullpen. Tom Wilhelmsen was charged with three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Rockies closer LaTroy Hawkins allowed a run in his one inning of work, striking out two. He has a 12.79 ERA this spring.
Gabby Guerrero, nephew of former major league star Vladimir Guerrero, hit a solo home run for the Mariners. He was a minor league call-up for the game.
The Peoria Sports Complex, home of the Mariners and San Diego Padres, set a record for spring training attendance with 238,847 fans over 31 dates.
THE KING HOLDS COURT
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez is looking forward to opening day, when he makes his seventh consecutive season-opening start for Seattle and eighth overall.
He's excited to leave the Arizona heat and open the season in Seattle. The Mariners have not opened at home since 2008.
''I just want to get back to my cold weather,'' Hernandez said.
He also dismissed a spring training in which he finished with a 10.22 ERA in four starts, not counting a minor league game. Hernandez said he didn't feel right in his last start Tuesday against Cleveland.
''I couldn't feel my legs. I think I was dehydrated. But you know, I'll be fine,'' he said. ''Physically I feel good. I don't know what happened. Don't worry about it.
''I'm not worried about this. I'll be fine. I know myself and I'll be good,'' he added.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: RHP Eddie Butler has an important start Saturday in the team's spring training finale. He left his last start with a shoulder problem, and needs to show strong form in order for the Rockies to start him as scheduled, in the third game of the regular season.
Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma is in line to start the third game of the season, following James Paxton. After a minor league game Thursday in which Iwakuma was instructed not to throw any splitters, manager Lloyd McClendon wanted to give Iwakuma more time for a blister to heal.
TRANSACTIONS
The Rockies reassigned touted pitching prospect Jon Gray to minor league camp. Earlier this spring, Gray had been in the mix for the starting rotation.
The Mariners placed left-hander Edgar Olmos on the 15-day disabled list with a left shoulder impingement, retroactive to March 30. They have to make one more roster move, presumably with injured infielder Chris Taylor, before Sunday's roster deadline.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Colorado wraps up spring training with another game against the Mariners on Saturday. Then the Rockies are off to Milwaukee to open the season.
Mariners: Seattle bids farewell to Arizona with a rematch against the Rockies on Saturday before heading back to the Pacific Northwest. Taijuan Walker, who could start the fourth game of the season, will pitch two innings, McClendon said.
