Tenbrink singles in winning run to cap ninth-inning rally

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners rallied for three runs in the ninth inning, with Nate Tenbrink singling home Tyler Smith for a 3-2 walk-off win over the Rockies on Friday night at Peoria Stadium, in Seattle's final home game of Cactus League play.

Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood threw two scoreless innings Friday, but then was removed after straining his left hamstring while running the bases on a triple in the third.

Mariners starter Roenis Elias, named Seattle's No. 4 starter earlier in the day by manager Lloyd McClendon, allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts over five innings in his Cactus League finale.

Chatwood, making his final tuneup before pitching the third game of the season for the Rockies on Wednesday in Miami, faced the minimum six batters in the first two frames with a double-play ball erasing his one walk.

But Colorado manager Walt Weiss replaced him with a pinch-runner after the 24-year-old right-hander sprinted hard into third base when his line drive got past Mariners center fielder Abraham Almonte and rolled all the way to the wall leading off the third. The Rockies said Chatwood had a slight strain and some cramping in his hamstring and would be re-evaluated Saturday.

Chatwood was 8-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 20 starts for the Rockies last year and concluded this spring with a 4.20 ERA in five Cactus League outings.

Elias, a 25-year-old Cuban who has never pitched above Double-A ball, finished the spring with a 2.38 ERA in six games. He threw 79 pitches and now will make his Major League debut Thursday in Oakland.

The Rockies scored two runs off Elias in the third frame, with Troy Tulowitzki lacing an RBI double with two outs and Carlos Gonzalez following with an RBI single.

"It wasn't the way I would have wanted to end Spring Training," Elias said. "I didn't have command of the fastball the way I'd have liked. But I'm very happy the team has given me this opportunity. Every time I go out there, I'm going to give it all I can with my heart to help the team win."

The Mariners scored three in the ninth off Colorado reliever Manny Corpas when Smith doubled in John Hicks and Endy Chavez. After Stefen Romero was walked intentionally, Tenbrink hit a walk-off single, scoring Smith.

Gonzalez went 1-for-2 before being replaced in the fourth. He's hitting .405 this spring with a team-high 12 RBIs.

Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano went 1-for-3 with a double, putting his Cactus League average at .429 with one game remaining.

The Mariners set their 25-man roster with a series of moves Friday, which included the decision to keep Elias as the No. 4 starter. The Rockies are expected to officially announce their 25-man roster Saturday.

"We've been down here long enough and we've had some difficult conversations with a lot of good players," Weiss said. "I can't say I'm really enjoying this week, but I do feel good about the depth we have, relative to last year, especially, which made these conversations even more difficult. "

Up next: Newly signed right-hander Chris Young gets the start in Saturday's Cactus League finale against the Rockies at 12:10 p.m. PT at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale. The 34-year-old Young plans to throw about five innings or 75 pitches as he prepares to slot in as Seattle's fifth starter for the regular season. Designated hitter Corey Hart, who hasn't played in a Cactus League game since March 20, is expected to get some at-bats after hitting in Minor League games the past three days as he works back from a sore forearm. The Mariners will fly to Anaheim after the game, which will be available for free on MLB.TV, ROOT Sports and Gameday Audio.