In two innings, Taijuan Walker allowed one hit, a homer to Justin Morneau, but otherwise finished his remarkable spring training flawlessly as the Mariners beat Colorado 6-3 Saturday afternoon to close the Peoria show at 13-17-2.
Walker, who won the No. 5 position in the starting rotation, finished 4-0 with a 0.67 ERA (2 ER, 27.0 IP) with 26 strikeouts in seven starts. After the game, manager Lloyd McClendon said he would move Walker to the No. 4 spot and make J.A. Happ the No. 5 starter. Box score
1B Logan Morrison hit his second home run of spring, a two-run shot in the second inning. In the third, 3B Kyle Seager hit a triple that plated 2B Robinson Cano and DH Nelson Cruz, both of whom singled. The final run came on the first pitch of the eighth, when Leury Bonilla homered.
After six weeks in the desert, the Mariners were to have flown to Seattle Saturday night for a Sunday workout at Safeco Field, where they will open the regular season at 1:10 p.m. Monday against the Los Angeles Angels. Felix Hernandez opposes Angels ace Jered Weaver.
After the game, the Mariners made official the move of rookie RHP reliever Tyler Olson to the 25-man roster by placing SS Chris Taylor on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27 (broken wrist bone). Olson is the only non-roster invitee to make the big club.
The Opening Day roster:
Pitchers (12)
40 FARQUHAR, Danny RHP
34 HERNANDEZ, Felix RHP
18 IWAKUMA, Hisashi RHP
31 MEDINA, Yoervis RHP
56 RODNEY, Fernando RHP
38 SMITH, Carson
32 WALKER, Taijuan RHP
54 WILHELMSEN, Tom RHP
41 FURBUSH, Charlie LHP
33 HAPP, J.A.
66 OLSON, Tyler
65 PAXTON, James LHP
Catchers (2)
2 SUCRE, Jesus
3 ZUNINO, Mike
Infielders (5)
8 BLOOMQUIST, Willie UTL
22 CANO, Robinson
5 MILLER, Brad INF
20 MORRISON, Logan 1B
15 SEAGER, Kyle
Outfielders (6)
13 ACKLEY, Dustin
23 CRUZ, Nelson
16 JACKSON, Austin
12 RUGGIANO, Justin OF
7 SMITH, Seth
25 WEEKS, Rickie
15-day disabled list (2)
68 OLMOS, Edgar LHP
1 TAYLOR, Chris INF
