Cruz goes deep again as Mariners roll past Padres

PEORIA, Ariz. -- A big blast by Nelson Cruz and some serious control issues by Padres pitchers added up to the Mariners' second-straight Cactus League romp on Sunday as Seattle strolled to a 13-2 victory at Peoria Stadium.
Cruz homered in his first at-bat for a second straight game, knocking a full-count offering from Zach Lee over the fence in left field leading off the second. The big slugger has the most homers in the Majors over the past three seasons and is off to a hot start this spring, adding a bases-loaded walk in the third for his fifth RBI in two games.
"He looks OK," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He needs to save 'em now, just take some singles and keep working at-bats. Save those homers for the season. But it's nice to see him in a good spot already."
Cruz, who'll report to his Dominican Republic team for World Baseball Classic action on March 5, is 3-for-4 with two homers and a walk in his first five plate appearances.
The Padres walked 14 batters in the game, including four with the bases loaded, and hit a batter, while the Mariners didn't issue any walks for a second straight game.
"It just got quick for them today," said Padres manager Andy Green. "It's their first time on a Major League Spring Training field, and you see some jitters. … We're a young group of guys. A lot of those guys are junior college, college-aged guys. They're getting their feet under them."
Lee, acquired off waivers from Seattle in December, allowed just the lone run on two hits over two frames in his Padres debut. But the Mariners erupted for six runs in the third off San Diego relievers Michael Kelly and Bryan Rodriguez, taking advantage of six walks -- including five in a row -- along with three singles as 12 batters came to the plate.
Carlos Asuaje doubled and scored on Luis Sardiñas' single to finally get the Padres on the board in the fifth after Seattle had taken a 9-0 lead, but Seattle tallied four more in the fifth with help from four consecutive walks.
Former Giants right-hander Chris Heston threw two scoreless innings in his first start for the Mariners, allowing just a lone single in an efficient 18-pitch outing.

Padres Up Next:Tyrell Jenkins makes his spring debut Monday, when the Friars head to Tempe to face the Angels at 12:10 p.m. PT. The right-hander, who was claimed off waivers in January, has an outside chance of cracking the rotation. Wil Myers is set to return to the lineup after an off-day Sunday. So is shortstop candidate Erick Aybar, who will be facing his former team.
Mariners Up Next: Veteran right-hander Yovani Gallardo makes his first appearance in Monday's 12:10 p.m. PT game against the Royals at Peoria Stadium. The 31-year-old, acquired from the Orioles, will make two starts before joining Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. New free agent lefty Marc Rzepczyski is slated for his first outing out of the 'pen. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.