The Associated Press
Brett Boone is safe at home as Cubs catcher Todd Hundley tries to handle the throw in the first inning of Seattle's 6-3 win on Sunday in Peoria, Ariz. Boone scored on a hit by John Olerud.

Baldwin, M's offense solid vs. Cubs

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Monday, March 25, 2002

PEORIA, Ariz. -- James Baldwin gave up three runs in six innings and Ichiro Suzuki stole three bases as the Seattle Mariners beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 Sunday.

The Mariners tagged Kerry Wood with his third defeat in four decisions this spring, scoring three runs on six hits in three innings.

Baldwin, signed as a free agent on Jan. 30 to replace the departed Aaron Sele in Seattle's rotation, gave up seven hits, while walking one and striking out one.

He allowed a home run to Roosevelt Brown to lead off the Cubs' fourth.

"I was pretty happy that I was able to keep my ball down and I was able to use all my pitches," Baldwin said. "The performance was good, but I was worried more about my location."

Baldwin, Seattle's No. 4 starter, is scheduled to pitch Friday in an exhibition game in Portland, Ore., against the San Diego Padres. He will make his first regular season start for Seattle on April 4 in Oakland.

Manager Lou Piniella came out to the mound to talk to Baldwin in the sixth inning, when the Cubs got RBI doubles from Todd Hundley and Julio Zuleta. He quickly went back to the dugout and Baldwin got Chris Stynes to fly out to end the inning.

"He asked me if I was tired. I told him I was fine and I wanted to stay out there," Baldwin said. "I'm happy. This is one of the best springs I've ever had because I'm usually pretty mediocre in spring training."

In the first, Suzuki singled, stole second and third and scored on Bret Boone's double. He also singled and scored a run in the fifth, and walked and stole a base in the sixth.

Suzuki, last season's AL MVP, led the majors with 56 stolen bases as a rookie in 2001. He now has five stolen bases this spring.

"We gave Ichiro the green light today and he ran well," Piniella said. "We haven't been doing much of it all spring, but now we're starting to do a few of the things that we're going to do during the course of the season. Certainly speed is part of our offense."

Edgar Martinez, Suzuki and Boone each had two hits for Seattle, while Alex Gonzalez had two hits for the Cubs.

Chicago was minus Sammy Sosa, Moises Alou and Fred McGriff from its lineup.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to Mariners 2002 index