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Maeda salvages strong start, but Mariners beat Dodgers 6-3

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kenta Maeda retired 14 of 15 batters after giving up two runs in the first inning and Justin Turner hit his first homer of the spring in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Maeda allowed four hits over five innings, including a double and two singles to the first three batters he faced. He finished with two earned runs allowed and five strikeouts.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kenta Maeda retired 14 of 15 batters after giving up two runs in the first inning and Justin Turner hit his first homer of the spring in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Maeda allowed four hits over five innings, including a double and two singles to the first three batters he faced. He finished with two earned runs allowed and five strikeouts.

In a duel of starters from Japan, Maeda had the advantage over Hisashi Iwakuma, who worked 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.

The two had never faced each other in Japan.

"This was fun," Maeda said through an interpreter after his fourth spring start. "Today was a little bit more exciting than a usual start."

Turner, who also had a pair of doubles, hit a home off Iwakuma in the first.

"Good at-bats," Iwakuma said through an interpreter. "He made me pay. The home run was a curveball down in the zone. I thought it was a good pitch, but he stayed on it.

"The second and third at-bats, the ball was up. Those two pitches, I could have executed better. But he still put a good swing on it."

Nelson Cruz put the Mariners on top with a three-run homer off Dodgers left-hander Luis Avilan in the sixth.

STARTING TIME

Mariners: Iwakuma agreed to a free agent deal with the Dodgers in December, but it fell apart because the Dodgers had medical concerns after Iwakuma underwent a physical.

"I have no feelings toward the past," Iwakuma said. "This is just another game."

Dodgers: Maeda has a 1.32 ERA in four starts with 13 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Mariners: RHP Evan Scribner continues to be troubled by a strained back. The club had hoped he would be back in the bullpen this week and be ready by mid-April.

Dodgers: RHP Mike Bolsinger said Monday that his left side felt better. Bolsinger was scratched from a scheduled start Sunday with what was called tightness in an abdominal muscle. Manager Dave Roberts called it a strained oblique muscle.

"I don't even know where my oblique is, technically," Bolsinger said.

The injury has further scrambled the club's starting rotation. It looked as if Bolsinger would be the No. 5 starter, but now that's in question. RHP Zach Lee, one contender for the job, was optioned to the minor leagues about 30 minutes before Bolsinger was scratched. RHP Brandon Beachy, another contender, has been troubled by inflammation in a surgically repaired left elbow.

There was no timetable Monday on when Bolsinger might return. Opening day is April 4, and the Dodgers' fifth game is on April 8 at San Francisco. There's concern, because an oblique injury can linger for weeks.

"We're going to be cautious," Roberts said. "That's a word we've been using a lot lately."

C Yasmani Grandal came out of the game in the second inning, complaining of stiffness in a forearm. He then left for a doctor's appointment that had been made before Monday's game.

UP NEXT

Mariners: After an off day Tuesday, they are at home in Peoria on Wednesday with RHP Nathan Karns scheduled to start against A's RHP Jesse Hahn.

Dodgers: They play the Royals Tuesday in Surprise with LHP Alex Wood set for his third spring start against RHP Chris Young, who is scheduled for his fourth start.

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