The Associated Press
The Mariners' Ruben Sierra (right) congratulates teammate John Olerud following Olerud's second-inning home run on Saturday at Safeco Field.

Newcomers carry Mariners over San Diego

Sierra busts out of spring slump with three hits

ELLIOTT SMITH THE OLYMPIAN

SEATTLE -- Boy, these new guys sure know how to make an impression.

Playing their first game in front of the Safeco Field faithful, offseason acquisitions James Baldwin, Ruben Sierra, Jeff Cirillo and Ben Davis all contributed to the Seattle Mariners' 6-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday before an intimate gathering of 8,732.

The biggest mark was left by Sierra, who labored through the spring with a sub-.200 average and several nagging injuries.

Saturday, however, he looked more like the player who was named last year's AL Comeback Player of the Year, going 3-for-4 and falling a triple short of the cycle.

Mariners manager Lou Piniella said it was good that his veteran slugger was finding his stride.

"When we signed him, we felt that he could help us offensively, being a switch-hitter," Piniella said. "But he couldn't get out there because of his physical problems. So it was good to see."

Baldwin, expected to fill the role vacated by Aaron Sele, was effective, if not overpowering, in his six innings of work. He allowed only a first-inning run and scattered six hits.

"I felt good," Baldwin said. "I was hitting my spots with a little more velocity. Safeco makes a difference versus Arizona. Some of the balls hit today might not have been outs. That's the difference between here and there."

It was exactly the kind of performance Piniella is looking for from his veteran hurler.

"We got some good pitching today," he said. "I thought Baldwin threw the ball well."

Cirillo chipped in with two hits and a run and Davis added two hits and a key sacrifice bunt to help extend a Mariners rally.

While the newcomers grabbed the spotlight, the returnees weren't too shabby either.

Ichiro Suzuki went 2-for-3 with a steal and John Olerud went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and his first homer of the spring.

Arthur Rhodes and Jeff Nelson finished the game for Baldwin as the Mariners improved to 14-17 in the spring.

"We played a good ballgame," Piniella said. "We swung the bats."

The Mariners and Padres are probably glad to see each other go, as the teams have played eight times this spring, including four straight games in three different stadiums.

Seattle finishes its exhibition schedule at 1:35 p.m. today against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tickets are still available.

Mariners glance

- Saturday: Seattle 6, San Diego 1.

- Today: Los Angeles at Seattle, 1:35 p.m. (final game of exhibition season).

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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