ROYALS 8, MARINERS 3
at Peoria, Ariz.
Friday, March 21

Royals at the plate: Third baseman Alex Gordon and former Mariners right fielder Jose Guillen each hit two-run home runs. Left fielder Mark Teahen contributed two doubles to the Royals' attack, while catcher Matt Tupman had two singles.

Mariners at the plate: Designated hitter Richie Sexson singled and walked in his three at-bats, and has seven hits in his last 16 at-bats. Wladimir Balentien, a longshot to earn a spot on the roster as a backup outfielder, singled home a run. Left fielder Mike Morse went 2-for-4, driving in a run with a double. He now has 23 spring hits.

Royals on the mound: Starter Gil Meche became the first Royals starter to pitch beyond the fifth inning, sailing through six innings against his former team before being lifted with two outs in the seventh. He surrendered two runs on six hits.

Mariners on the mound: Left-handed starter Erik Bedard continued to be haunted by the long ball. He surrendered two more home runs, his sixth and seventh in 18 innings this spring. Five of the other nine hits he surrendered were doubles. Right-handed reliever Sean Green tossed two scoreless innings.

Cactus League records: Mariners 9-12-2; Royals 12-10.

Royals up next: No. 2 starter Brian Bannister will face the San Diego Padres at 3:05 p.m. CT on Saturday at Surprise Stadium. Chris Young is the Padres' starter. Also scheduled to pitch for the Royals: Mike Maroth, Jimmy Gobble, Leo Nunez and Brandon Duckworth.

Mariners up next: The Mariners and Rangers meet for the first time this spring in a Saturday afternoon game at 1:05 p.m. PT at Peoria Stadium and manager John McLaren wants to keep right-hander Felix Hernandez "hidden" from the American League West rivals, who open the regular season on March 31 in Seattle. Hernandez and closer J.J. Putz are scheduled to work in a Minor League game. Left-hander Ryan Feierabend will start against the Rangers and be followed by left-handers Ryan Rowland-Smith, Eric O'Flaherty and Arthur Rhodes and right-hander Chris Reitsma. Right-hander Eric Hurley gets the starting nod for the Rangers.