Felix Hernandez delivered another sharp spring performance, allowing one run while striking out three in three innings, but the Mariners lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 Tuesday in Cactus League play at Peoria. Eric Hinske and Mark Teahen slammed homers for the Diamondbacks.
Hernandez, who has three more scheduled starts this spring, threw 38 pitches in his three innings. In five innings, he’s allowed two runs on three hits. His next outing is Sunday.
Hinske, 35, belted the home run off Hernandez, a solo shot on a 1-0 count in the second inning. Hernandez left the ball up in the strike zone.
Mariners prospect Brad Miller, receiving the start at third base, hit a solo home run to lead off the fifth against D-backs RHP Chase Anderson as Seattle raised its major league-leading home run total to 32 in 17 games. Miller doubled and scored in the ninth on an error.
Mariners’ RHP Hector Noesi, who started the 2012 season in Seattle’s rotation, continued a rough spring. He allowed a home run and walked two in his only inning of work as his ERA climbed to 17.36. That doesn’t count his last outing, in which he allowed three home runs in a start washed away by rain.
Wednesday, Hisashi Iwakuma is scheduled to throw four innings against the Kansas City Royals in Surprise. Danny Hultzen, who hasn’t pitched since Feb. 27 after his last start was scratched because of a sore hip, will throw an inning in relief. Relievers Tom Wilhelmsen, Charlie Furbush and Stephen Pryor are also scheduled to throw.
NOTES: The Mariners made a $5.7 million profit in 2012, according to figures released to the Public Facilities District this week. The Mariners also reported that the original $200 million debt on Safeco Field is now down to $37 million. Once the $37 million has been paid, a percentage of future team profits will be shared with the PFD. The Mariners’ Safeco Field lease runs through 2018 . . . Reliever Josh Kinney will miss the rest of spring training with an injury to his back. No timetable has been established for his return.