PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Robinson Cano had two hits and an RBI and Dustin Ackley’s had a three-run double among his two hits, as a Seattle Mariners split-squad beat the Colorado Rockies 8-1 Monday.
Cano, who signed a $240 million, 10-year contract, with Seattle this winter, had an infield single as one of his hits.
In four games, Ackley is hitting .600 with a home run, three doubles and six RBIs.
Ackley gave his a team a 6-1 lead in the fifth inning when he ripped a bases-loaded double off Rob Scahill over the head of center fielder Brandon Barnes.
“He’s a very talented young man,” Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. “I think our challenge is to get him in one place and leave him there and let him flourish.”
Seattle starter Blake Beavan allowed a run and four hits in three innings.
Colorado starter Brett Anderson threw two scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk, while fanning two.
Anderson was traded to the Rockies during the offseason and said he felt nerves when he took the mound for the first time with his new team.
First outing in a new organization, it was good,” he said. “Usually there aren’t too many nerves in a spring training game, but I kind of had a little adrenaline going.”
STARTING TIME
Rockies: Anderson used his Cactus League debut to get a benchmark on where he’s at this far into spring training.
“Didn’t give up any runs, felt good, so that’s a positive,” Anderson said. “Walked a guy, which you never like to do, but was trying to gauge where I’m at. Threw a 3-2 slider with two outs and nobody on that I probably wouldn’t throw in a regular season game.”
Mariners: Making his second outing of spring training, Blake Beavan gave up one earned run on four hits in three innings.
“He’s a command guy,” McClendon said. “He’s not a stuff guy, he’s not a guy who’s going to light up the radar gun. He has to control the strike zone, he’s got to stay down in the zone, move it in and out. He did a fine job of doing that today.”
Beavan is one of a handful of Mariners competing for a spot in the back end of Seattle’s starting rotation. Last year, he was a starter coming out of training camp, but lost his spot after pitching poorly in two starts.
“This is a big year for me,” he said. “Last year not being 100 percent healthy and playing through it, coming in this year being 100 percent healthy I think is going to make a big difference.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Third baseman Kyle Seager sat out for the third straight game because of a jammed index finger on his throwing hand. McClendon said Seager will start Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sitting Seager is a precautionary move.
“It’s nothing major,” the third baseman said. “It wouldn’t even be an issue if this was the regular season.”
HERE COMES THE KING
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez is scheduled to make his first start of spring training on Tuesday when Seattle faces the Los Angeles Dodgers. McClendon said Hernandez will throw two innings.
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