PEORIA, Ariz. -- Mariners starter Mike Leake threw three scoreless innings in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Royals at Peoria Stadium, but it's the little things that looked big for the 30-year-old right-hander.
Leake picked off a runner at second base to end the second inning and he made a good defensive play by snaring a hard shot up the middle to escape trouble in the third. To top it off, Leake liked the recent work done to slow down his changeup to give it more of a differential from his fastball.
"It was a good outing for me," said Leake, who has yet to allow a run in five innings over his first two starts.