SURPRISE, Ariz. -- A solid outing from left-hander Yusei Kikuchi and an appearance from the legendary Ichiro Suzuki weren't enough to save the Mariners in an 8-0 Cactus League loss to the Royals Saturday, when three errors led to five unearned runs.
“That was a clunker,” manager Scott Servais said. “You have those games once in a while. Our young players just didn’t protect the baseball today. We try to say 27 outs, no more. I think we gave them about 35 outs today. We’ve got to be sharper than that.”
There were highlights scattered throughout the game, perhaps most notably the three strong innings from Kikuchi, making his second Cactus League start in his first season in the Major Leagues after establishing his career in Japan. Kikuchi allowed two runs on two hits and a hit batter while striking out three over three innings.
“Yusei threw the ball really well,” Servais said. “He was really efficient the first couple innings. He had real good curveball, fastball combo working. The third inning we didn’t play great defense behind him. He’s definitely doing everything we hoped he would and continues to get better. He looks like he’s been in this league a long time.”
Ichiro was also in the starting lineup Saturday, trying to get himself into competitive form at the age of 45 after not having played a Major League game since May 2, 2018.
“Ichiro’s timing has been in and out all spring,” Servais said. “He played [Friday], he played today. He’ll have a couple days off probably, and then when we come back after the off-day try to get more regular at-bats every day going forward.”
Designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, improving his Cactus League average to .556 (5-for-9) with a homer.
“Vogey’s really patient at the plate,” Servais said. “He knows the strike zone as well as anyone that we have. He’s swinging the bat real comfortable in the batter’s box right now. That’s what he needs to do to make this ballclub.”
Mending Mariners
Evan White, the Mariners’ No. 1 Draft pick in 2017, was back in Saturday’s game after missing a couple of days with a sore hamstring.
“I just wanted to give him an extra day yesterday,” Servais said before the game. “That’s more on me, the medical staff, than on him. No reason to push it right now with Evan.”
White came in as a pinch-hitter for first baseman Ryon Healy and was 0-for-2 with a strikeout, playing first base the rest of the day. He is in his first Spring Training camp.
Center fielder Mallex Smith is expected to start making progression with baseball activity next week after a doctor examines his sore elbow.
“Coming out of the off-day on Monday, we should have a good indication of how he can start ramping up,” Servais said. “He feels good. I don’t think there’s going to be anything to slow him down. He’ll start playing catch. The biggest thing is to get a bat in his hand and let him start swinging.”
Up next
The Mariners face the D-backs in Peoria at 12:10 p.m. PT Sunday, sending Marco Gonzales to the hill.