PEORIA, Ariz. -- Few, if any, conclusions should be made based off the first game of spring training, but there had to be some satisfaction from Mariners brass Wednesday after seeing left-handed pitcher James Paxton healthy, on a mound, delivering two scoreless innings without much drama.
Paxton (1-0) allowed no hits, walked and struck out one and appeared at ease in the Mariners' 7-0 win over the Padres in the Cactus League opener at Peoria Stadium.
In what served as his first audition in the battle for the No. 5 spot in Seattle's starting rotation, Paxton threw 34 pitches, 19 for strikes.