Eyeing rotation, Paxton throttles Dodgers
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Mariners lefty James Paxton allowed just an unearned run over four innings and Robinson Cano ripped his second homer of the spring, but Rob Segedin drilled a two-run homer in the 10th inning to lift the Dodgers to an 8-4 victory in a split-squad game on Saturday night at Peoria Stadium.
One out after Jack Murphy walked leading off the top of the 10th, Segedin connected for his third spring homer, off Rafael Pineda. Brandon Trinkwon tripled home another run and scored on Rico Noel's RBI single later in the inning.
Second baseman Elian Herrera unloaded a high-arcing two-run homer to right field off Mariners reliever Jonathan Aro in the fifth inning and went 2-for-5 and scored three times on the day.
Dodgers starter Carlos Frias zipped through two perfect innings before surrendering two runs on three hits in the third. Franklin Gutierrez singled and scored from first on Steve Clevenger's double down the left-field line. Clevenger took third on the throw to the plate and scored on Boog Powell's grounder for a 2-0 advantage.
After Herrera gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead, Cano answered with his own home run to right on a hard line shot leading off the sixth against right-hander Chase De Jong. Cano went 1-for-3 and is hitting .319 (6-for-19) in seven games.
Paxton, competing with Nathan Karns for the Mariners' final rotation spot, allowed just three hits with no walks and two strikeouts in his 50-pitch outing as he stretched out to four frames in his third Cactus League start. The Dodgers got their lone run off the lanky lefty on a throwing error by shortstop Ketel Marte on Shawn Zarraga's two-out grounder in the fourth.
"I feel good," said Paxton. "I didn't get tired at all. My arm felt really good. I feel like I'm ready."
Up next for Dodgers:Clayton Kershaw makes his third start of the spring on Sunday against Jordan Lyles and the Colorado Rockies in a game available live on MLB.TV. Kershaw has allowed one run in five innings with seven strikeouts. The Dodgers are likely to make their first round of roster cuts Sunday or Monday.
Up next for Mariners: Karns makes his third spring start on Sunday in a 1:10 p.m. PT game against the Reds at Peoria Stadium. Karns, acquired from the Rays by trade, has a 1.80 ERA in five innings as he battles for the final spot in Seattle's rotation. He's slated for four innings, followed by Joe Wieland, Mayckol Guaipe and Blake Parker in a game that will be televised live on MLB.TV and Root Sports.