Notes: Hernandez happy with outing

03/12/2006
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Starter Felix Hernandez continued to progress in his third spring start.
The 19-year-old Mariners right-hander pitched three shutout innings in Sunday's game against the Texas Rangers, striking out two batters, giving up one walk and surrendering two hits.
He also was helped by a spectacular defensive play by center fielder Jeremy Reed, who ran far to his right and dove to barely snag a Brad Wilkerson gapper that would have been an RBI extra-base hit in the third inning.
When asked what he thought about the catch, Hernandez said, "Great. He saved my life."
Manager Mike Hargrove said that play and another good grab by Reed in the same inning, in which the center fielder ran down a sinking liner, were examples of Hernandez getting a tad careless with his curveball instead of focusing on executing the pitch.
"Hopefully Felix understands that if you throw that pitch, you can't just spin it up there," Hargrove said.
Hernandez described the outing as a big step up from his last appearance, when he gave up three runs in two innings against the Brewers on Tuesday. Hernandez said he concentrated in bullpen sessions between starts on hitting the corners more and that the work paid off.
"I threw more strikes and my pitches were good," he said. "My two-seamer was great. ... I focused more on what I needed to do -- get in the strike zone."
Hernandez once again was asked whether the pressure and expectations of being a teenage phenom are getting to him at all. Before he went out to talk to reporters after his Sunday outing, infielder Willie Bloomquist chided him good-naturedly about the magazine covers on which he's appeared this spring.
"There's no pressure," he said. "I'll just go out there and do the best I can and help this team as much as I can."
Appier still dealing: Kevin Appier was and might still be a long shot to make the Mariners out of Spring Training after taking almost all of last year off because of injuries and "retiring" a few times, but very quietly he's crafting a solid Cactus League season.
The 38-year-old, who has 169 big-league victories, ran his spring scoreless-innings streak to five with two shutout innings Sunday and still wasn't completely satisfied with his outing afterward.
"The results were good," Appier said. "The breaking ball, when I threw it, was good. I was still unhappy with some pitches. I'm still rushing."
Hargrove said Appier hasn't done anything to indicate he's been eliminated from consideration for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
"He keeps keeping himself in the mix," Hargrove said.
Guardado, Lawton excused: Closer Eddie Guardado and outfielder Matt Lawton were excused from camp to attend Minneapolis memorials for their late Twins teammate and friend, Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett. They will be back in Peoria on Monday night.
Guardado and Lawton were scheduled to attend Sunday night's public ceremony honoring Puckett at the Metrodome and Puckett's funeral. Speakers slated to honor Puckett at the Metrodome included former teammates Kent Hrbek, Torii Hunter and Dave Winfield, former manager Tom Kelly and general manager Andy MacPhail, former Twins coach Al Newman plus Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Cal Ripken Jr.
Training room report: First baseman Richie Sexson sat out Sunday's game with a tight right quadriceps that he tweaked while stretching, Hargrove said. "It really was precautionary keeping him out," the manager said. ... Bloomquist (laceration of right pinkie) is still a few days away from game action. ... Second baseman Fernando Vina (strained hip flexor) will take batting practice Monday and could be ready for a game as soon as Wednesday, Hargrove said. ... Right-hander Clint Nageotte (pulled left hamstring) threw a bullpen session Saturday and will throw another Monday. He hopes to get in a game soon after. ... Outfielder Chris Snelling (left knee surgery) is hitting in the cages but says his knee is still tender when he runs. ... Left-hander Bobby Livingston (stiff neck) is scheduled to pitch Tuesday. ... Outfielder Wladimir Balentien (strained right hamstring) is available for games. ... Left-hander Cesar Jimenez (mild strain of left hamstring) is scheduled to pitch Monday.
Mariners log: Hargrove said pitching coach Rafael Chaves spoke with reliever Julio Mateo before Mateo left camp for the Dominican Republic, where he is mourning the death of his older brother, Luis Manuel Mateo, who died in a car accident in the Dominican on Friday night. Hargrove added that Mateo can take as much time as he wants to deal with the tragedy. ... Ichiro Suzuki, who is moonlighting as the right fielder and leadoff man for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, hit the second pitch of Sunday's second-round game against the United States for a home run off Jake Peavy. ... Texas manager Buck Showalter on Mariners relievers Rafael Soriano and J.J. Putz, who made quick work of the Rangers on Sunday with a scoreless inning apiece: "It's not good news to see Soriano and Putz healthy and throwing the ball well."

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/