Brady Henderson and Josh Stilts reporting:Second baseman Reegie Corona doubled, scoring two of the four runs in the third inning giving starting pitcher Jarrod Washburn his second win of camp.
Ryan Rowland-Smith however didn't look so good in his second outing, allowing four hits and two walks in his two innings of work, along with a three-run homer to Chicago's designated hitter, Jim Thome.
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Closer candidate Tyler Walker gave up one hit and walked one in his one shutout inning.
Now that most of the candidates for closer have pitched at least an inning, General Manager Jack Zduriencik and Manager Don Wakamatsu have to start evaluating each of them for composure as Opening Day approaches.
While the outcomes of spring training games are essentially meaningless, the Mariners are using their exhibition season to answer one of the team's biggest questions: Who will be their closer in 2009?
Here's what each player brings to the table:
Right now, it appears the job will belong to one of five pitchers. Mark Lowe, Roy Corcoran and Miguel Batista are the leading candidates, while David Aardsma and Tyler Walker are still in the mix.
Mark Lowe seems like a prototypical closer. He throws in the mid-90s and has an effective change-up. He possesses perhaps the most important quality of a closer, the ability to make batters miss. Last year his strikeout-per-nine-innings rate (7.78) was second among the four candidates only to that of Aardsma. But he struggled a bit with his command last year, walking 34 batters in 63 innings. Elbow problems have limited his short career. After being called up late in the 2006 season, he pitched in only four games in 2007. But Lowe did set a team record by pitching 17.2 scoreless innings to begin his major league career.
Spring training stats: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 SO, 0 ER.
Roy Corcoran was one of the most effective relievers for the Mariners last season. In 50 appearances, batters hit just .239 off him. He's a sinkerball pitcher who doesn't have an overpowering fastball, but enduces a ton of groundballs. His 2.32 groundball-to-flyball ratio led all AL pitchers last season. He doesn't have the strikeout potential of Lowe and he hasn't shown an ability to routinely succeed against left-handed batters.
Spring training stats: 2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 SO, 0 ER.
Miguel Batista is the candidate with the most success as a closer. He saved 31 games for Toronto in 2005. But since then he's lost his command. He had more walks than strikeouts last season, compared to his 2-1 K/BB ratio in 2005. Like Corcoran, he has struggled against left-handed batters. 55 of his 79 walks last season came against lefties. Also working against Batista is his age. It makes more sense for a rebuilding team like the Mariners to develop a younger closer than give that job to a 38-year-old.
Spring training stats: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 SO 0 ER.
Tyler Walker, probably best known for his stint as San Francisco Giants closer in 2005. Walker converted 23 of his 28 save opportunities striking out 54 in 61.2 innings. Plagued by injuries since, Walker has only thrown 93 innings since, 53.1 last year with the Giants. He'll most likely end up a right-handed specialist.
Spring training stats: 1 IP, 1H, 1 BB, 0 SO, 0 ER.
David Aardsma's weakness has always been control. Last season while with the Boston Redsox, Aardsma pitched 48.2 innings struck out 49, but walked 35 and hit 5 other batters. For Aardsma to succeed in the bullpen, let alone as a closer he needs to keep the ball down. He gave up 49 hits, 4 for home-runs. Like Walker, he will likely be used as a righty specialist.
Spring training stats: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 SO, 0 ER.
Of course, closers have to possess a certain mentality, and that can't be quantified by statistics. It will be hard to measure that quality, given that exhibition games don't present the pressure situations of the regular season. The Mariners could benefit from a brief regular season tryout, but Zduriencik and Wakamatsu have said the team will not use a closer-by-committee, and that their closer will be chosen by the end of spring training. Their decision won't be an easy one.
Reach Josh Stilts & Brady Henderson at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
