Rangers 9, Mariners 1
at Peoria, Ariz.
Thursday, March 12

Rangers at the plate: Just as he often did last season, Josh Hamilton put the Rangers ahead in the first inning, dumping a run-scoring single into center field. The hit scored Ian Kinsler, who led off with a double. Hank Blalock went 3-for-4, drove in a run and scored a run. Taylor Teagarden hit his second home run of the spring, a two-run shot in the sixth inning. Marlon Byrd had two hits and three RBIs.

Mariners at the plate: Mike Sweeney hit his first home run of the spring, a shot to left-center field off Eddie Guardado in the seventh inning. Mike Wilson, robbed of an extra-base hit by Hamilton in the third inning, doubled to left field in the sixth.

Rangers on the mound: Right-handed starter Brandon McCarthy was outstanding, holding the Mariners to one hit over four scoreless innings. The only glitch on McCarthy's ledger was a one-out single by Jamie Burke in the third. Right-hander Jason Jennings tossed two scoreless frames.

Mariners on the mound: Jarrod Washburn's fourth appearance this spring was significantly better than his third. The left-hander rebounded from a 1 1/3-inning struggle against the Athletics to hold the Rangers to three runs -- one earned -- over three innings. The only earned run came on a bases-loaded walk. Right-hander Miguel Batista surrendered one unearned run in a two-inning stint. Righty Roy Corcoran allowed his first Cactus League runs, giving up four in the sixth inning.

Cactus League records: Mariners (6-5-1); Rangers (8-6)

Up next: The Rangers will continue their tour around the Cactus League, visiting the Dodgers' new Spring Training complex in Phoenix for a 3:05 p.m. CT split-squad game. The other Rangers team will remain in Surprise for a "road" game against the Royals, also beginning at 3:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Doug Mathis will get the start against the Dodgers, while righty Vicente Padilla will start against the Royals.

The Mariners split things up on Friday, sending one team to Mesa to face the Cubs in a 1:05 p.m. PT game at HoHoKam Stadium while another team heads down I-10 to face the Diamondbacks in a 1:05 p.m. PT game in Tucson. Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu will attend the game in Mesa so he can watch closer candidates Mark Lowe, Tyler Walker and David Aardsma, along with right-hander Shawn Kelley. Bench coach Ty Van Burkleo will manage the team in Tucson. Slated to start the games are right-hander Gaby Hernandez against the Cubs and left-hander Jason Vargas against the D-backs.