SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The results looked a bit different Sunday afternoon. So did Brandon Maurer, newly-shaven and all after he was knocked around for five runs in 1 1/3 innings in his initial spring start.
“I had the nerves under control this time,” Maurer said after throwing three efficient innings in the Padres’ 8-1 loss to the Giants, his longest outing since a May 29, 2014, start for the Mariners. “I understood that I had to go three, but I felt better. I backed it down in the pen – didn’t quite throw as many (in warm-ups) – so I felt like I had more energy out there.