Lee has strong debut for Mariners
March 10, 2010
SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP)—Cliff Lee(notes) accomplished his primary objective in hisdelayed spring debut, then began to work on the rest of his repertoire.
The Seattle Mariners’ prized offseason acquisition threw 36 of 46 pitchesfor strikes over three solid innings in a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers onWednesday.
“I want to locate fastballs, that’s the No. 1 thing for me right now. So Itried to do that more than anything,” Lee said. “I was pleased with where thatwas at, so I was able to use more pitches than I anticipated.”
Lee gave up a run and five singles, struck out one and walked one. Theleft-hander benefited from two double plays.
“I’m glad he’s on our team,” manager Don Wakamatsu said. “It’s nice tohave a guy that understands how to pitch out of some jams a little bit, a guythat doesn’t lose his composure, that’s been to the World Series, won a CyYoung. … We’re hoping the influence is even more for these other guys to learnfrom.”
So intent on locating his fastball, the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner needed12 pitches to finally retire leadoff hitter Pedro Borbon on a fly ball to starthis outing.
“I felt like I probably could have thrown some off-speed and gotten himearlier,” Lee said.
When the 31-year-old Lee reported to Mariners camp three weeks ago, his leftfoot was bandaged following surgery to remove a bone spur. Even though he saidhe was ready to pitch then, the Mariners were cautious with the ace theyacquired from Philadelphia in the offseason.
“It’s a non-issue. It’s been a non-issue for a few weeks now,” Lee said.“That’s behind me.”
Mike Sweeney(notes), a 15-year veteran who signed a minor league deal with theMariners right before camp, went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles, one of themdriving in three runs to put Seattle up 6-1 in the fifth. Sweeney is 10 for 13(.769) in his four spring games with three doubles, a home run and six RBIs.
Milton Bradley(notes) had an RBI groundout in the first and was hit by a pitch withthe bases loaded in the fifth before Sweeney’s bases-clearing double.
C.J. Wilson(notes), getting a chance to move from the bullpen to the Texasrotation, allowed a leadoff single to Ichiro Suzuki(notes) and a leadoff walk to JoshWilson(notes) in the third. Both scored. Wilson struck out two, walked one and yieldedone hit in his three innings.
“I ended up throwing my full allotment of pitches which is good,” Wilsonsaid. “The thing they have been stressing with me a lot is minimizing biginnings and just going out there and challenging guys to hit the ball and put itin play.”
Hard-throwing Neftali Feliz(notes), who also could transition into the rotation,gave up four runs and four hits over two innings. All three of his strikeoutscame in the fourth, and all the runs came in the fifth.
NOTES: Texas stars 3B Michael Young(notes), 2B Ian Kinsler(notes) and CF Josh Hamilton(notes) gotthe day off. They are scheduled to make the two-hour trip to Tucson forThursday’s game against Colorado. … Wakamatsu said LHP Erik Bedard(notes), recoveringfrom surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, is long-tossingwith no problems. “He is still a ways away from getting on the mound, buteverything right now is extremely good,” Wakamatsu said. Bedard might besidelined until June.
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