Baxter hits HR off batter's eye in M's 5-2 loss to Brewers

PHOENIX (AP) Mike Baxter hit a two-run homer in off the batter's eye screen behind center field during the Seattle Mariners' 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Wily Peralta and Chris Capuano each pitched two scoreless innings for the Brewers, who have allowed three runs in two wins to start the exhibition season.

''We were efficient. Guys have locked into their deliveries pretty well and quickly,'' Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. ''We're getting ahead in counts, letting the defense do the work and the result has been some quick innings.''

Mariners starter Taijuan Walker allowed one run and two hits in two innings.

Hernan Perez had two hits, including an RBI single, and Andy Wilkins hit his first home run of spring training, a two-run drive off Myckol Guaipe that traveled more than 400 feet and landed halfway up the grass berm in right field.

''First hit of the spring and it went a long way and felt great,'' said Wilkins, who was the property of Baltimore, Texas, Seattle and Milwaukee from Dec. 2-23. ''I've gone through a lot in my career, and you can't worry about decisions you can't control. All you can do is try to do something to make those decisions harder.''

Eric Young Jr. hit an RBI single in the sixth. Seth Smith singled in both of his at-bats.

STARTING TIME

Mariners: Walker, who won 11 games for Seattle last year including five straight starts in June and July, breezed through the first but loaded the bases in the second with one out before escaping with one run allowed.

''Arm felt good. The fastball command wasn't where I want it to be, but I got out of a jam that could have been a lot worse,'' Walker said. ''I want to command the fastball and change and make sure I have a curveball I can count on.''

Brewers: Peralta, the favorite to be the opening-day starter, faced the minimum six batters. A leadoff single to Smith in the second was wiped out by one of Milwaukee's two double plays.

''He threw all his pitches well and made some good sliders to left-handed hitters,'' Counsell said. ''It was a quick outing but he did what he wanted to do.''

FOR THE DEFENSE

Seattke shortstop Luis Sardinas leaped to rob Aaron Hill of a line drive single in the third. ... Baxter, Seattle's left fielder, stretched out in a head-long dive to stab a Colin Walsh drive headed for the left-center field gap in the seventh.

UP NEXT

Mariners: LHP Wade Miley gets a start against the Los Angles Angels in Tempe. Joel Peralta is also expected to pitch.

Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson is to make his spring training debut against Oakland in Mesa.