PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Juan Perez hit a solo home run and Hector Sanchez had two hits and an RBI as a split squad of San Francisco Giants pounded out 16 hits with a lineup of mostly backups and roster hopefuls in a 13-6 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
Mariners starter James Paxton allowed two earned runs on six hits and was charged with an error for a wild throw to first base in the second inning.
The Mariners committed four errors in the game and a pair of veteran relievers, Fernando Rodney and Tom Wilhelmsen, were charged with a combined seven earned runs on seven hits in two-thirds of an inning.
“You’re not going to have your best stuff every time you go out there,” Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said. “One of those spring training days. It’s the time of year when guys are going to be dragging a little bit.”
Perez, trying to make the major league roster as a backup outfielder, was 3 for 5 and homered in the second off Paxton. He also doubled and stole a base.
Edwin Escobar, a 22-year-old rookie from Venezuela, was charged with four of the Mariners’ runs.
An elderly woman described by first aid workers as a Mariners season ticket holder from Washington state was struck by a bat that flew out of the hands of the Mariners’ Kyle Seager into the stands in the sixth inning. The woman was taken by wheelchair to an ambulance and transported to a hospital.
STARTING TIME
San Francisco: Escobar pitched 2 2-3 innings and walked three and struck out two in the Giants’ top prospect’s third start of the spring. Until Saturday, Escobar had allowed one hit and one run over six innings, though he’d walked five.
“I didn’t have the changeup working, but the fastball and curveball were effective enough,” Escobar said. “I need to work a little harder on throwing strikes and limiting the walks.”
Seattle: Paxton had allowed one run on seven hits in four starts before Saturday. He did take pride in staying in the game after being hit in the leg by a hard groundball in the second inning and getting out of the game with only one run allowed.
“Leg feels fine. It squared me up pretty good,” said Paxton, a native of British Columbia who faced pucks to his body playing youth hockey. “I was telling the guys it wouldn’t be very Canadian if I let that take me out of the game.”
CLOSING TIME
Rodney was ejected in the top of the fifth for arguing with plate umpire Adam Hamari. Rodney had allowed two runs on two hits in the inning and left the game with a 1-1 count on Tyler Colvin. Rodney hasn’t had a great spring, with his ERA ballooning to 18.00 after Saturday’s performance. He has allowed six earned runs on seven hits in three innings and four appearances overall.
“First time,” Rodney said when asked if he’d ever been thrown out of a game. “I just said it was a strike. He said, ’That’s enough.’”
CANO LEAVES TEAM
Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano left the team Friday night to attend to a personal matter in the Dominican Republic. Cano is expected to miss Sunday’s game as well, but will be back for Tuesday’s game with the Mariners having Monday off.
TRAINER’S ROOM
San Francisco: Outfielder Angel Pagan is day-to-day with back stiffness. Outfielder Michael Morse remains out with calf tightness. He’s expected to miss another four or five days. Infielder Marco Scutaro has a sore back, but is taking batting practice and fielding groundballs. He has yet to play in a spring training game.
Seattle: Pitcher Brandon Maurer is getting treatment for back problems and has been limited to just two appearances in spring training. He could miss a week of games and his chances of making the major-league roster have decreased with the injury. Reliever Stephen Pryor could throw in a minor league game in the next few days as he returns from shoulder surgery. Pitcher Taijuan Walker is scheduled for a 40-pitch bullpen session Sunday as he comes back from shoulder soreness.
NICE IMPRESSION
San Francisco: Shortstop Brandon Hicks went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. He’s batting .370 in 15 games this spring and is trying to stay in competition for a major league roster spot.
UP NEXT:
San Francisco: Right-hander Yusmeiro Petit is scheduled to make his fifth spring appearance and second start Sunday against the Cleveland Indians. He has allowed seven earned runs in seven innings pitched.
Seattle: Left-hander Roenis Elias looks to continue an impressive spring training when he starts against the Los Angeles Angels. Elias, who defected from Cuba in 2010, has a 1.23 ERA in three spring outings and makes his first start Sunday. He spent the 2013 season at Double-A Jackson.
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