END GAME: Rockies 4, Mariners 1.

Notes:
-Mariners fall to 5-8 in Cactus League and have lost five of their past six games.
-Willie Bloomquist left the game with a quadriceps injury that doesn't appear to be serious.
-The Mariners had only four hits. Brad Wilkerson had two of them and is batting .412 in spring training.
-McLaren said he doesn't care for pitchers hitting at all. "It's such a disadvantage for American League clubs, during the season, spring training, anything," he said. I don't like our pitchers hitting at all. They're not used to it, they don't do it in the minor leagues much. I don't care for it."
-McLaren said he'll start playing regular starters in back-to-back games leading up to regular season.
-As for Ichiro, McLaren said his stroke is there. He's just "that much" off. "Put him down for the batting title," McLaren said.

Top 9

Ichiro has just grounded out sharply to third. He's 0-for-4 today and 0-for-21 this spring.

Bottom 8:

J.J. Putz just served up a two-run HR and the Rockies lead 4-1. He's allowed four earned runs in three innings of work, three games. ERA is 12.00.

Hernandez said his two-seam fastball was especially effective today, and that he's ready to start the season now.

Top 8:

Charlton Jimerson has come on to pinch-run for Brad Wilkerson after the Rockies took a 2-1 lead. I was downstairs hearing from Hernandez. Jimerson stole second; leads the team in steals with three, and now four as he swipes third.

AK: Ichiro is hitting to both fields equally overall but has gone to the opposite field twice today.

Bottom 6th

Great play by Beltre to take a bunt hit away from Taveras. Ryan Rowland-Smith is in for Hernandez, who went 5 innings, no runs , three hits, 3 Ks.

Top 6

Ichi-time: Ball, strike called, curve ball fly out to left field. He's 0-for-20.

END 5th

Hernandez just keeps mowing them down. A much better outing than Bedard yesterday, restoring hope to the faithful. Do we hear the "Who should be the No. 1 starter" questions yet? Hernandez has thrown 58 pitches in five innings. Now the M's are pinch-hitting for Hernandez with Jeff Clement.

Bottom 5

Kick save and a beauty by Felix as a comebacker bounces off his foot and kicks off to shortstop for a single.

Top 5

The Mariners, like the sun in this press box, have something cooking here. Runners at first and third with one out after Cairo popped out. Burke hits into a 6-4-3 double play even as Wilkerson breaks for second, inning over.

END 4th

Felix has a nine-pitch inning. He's thrown 48 in all.

The P.A. announcer here at the park just asked how many are here from Colorado. A loud cheer.
From Seattle? A slightly less noisier cheer. And from Tucson? A smattering.

END 3rd

Three up, three down, nice play by Bloomquist to end the inning. 1-0 M's still. Hernandez: 39 total pitches,
He threw six for strikes, 12 total in the inning.

Top 3

Here's Ichiro for the second time. ball taken, strike, ball low, fly ball out to left. Make it 0-for-19.

END 2nd

Hernandez: 14 pitches, 9 strikes. He is throwing some major heat out there today. 27 total pitches for the game.

Top 2nd

Richie Sexson just blasted a solo home run some 400 feet to right-center. First HR of the spring for Sexson, it came on a 1-1 pitch. He's now 5-for-19. Could it be a sign of things to come? McLaren was talking about him earlier.

End 1st

We'll do the Ichiro-watch all day. Hernandez threw 13 pitches, 9 for strikes in a three-up, three-down inning.

Top 1

Ichiro leads off, and on the second pitch of the game grounds out back to the pitcher. Make it 0-for-18. He fouled off the first pitch of the game.