Liddi hits another grand slam in Mariners’ exhibition win

PEORIA, Ariz. – Alex Liddi will likely fall outside Seattle’s major league roster plans. That doesn’t mean he’s gone unnoticed by the Mariners’ brass.

The 22-year-old from Italy who played in the 2009 World Baseball Classic hit his second grand slam in as many days Thursday, leading a seven-run rally as the Mariners beat a Los Angeles Angels split squad 10-5.

Liddi, who connected on a 2-1 pitch from reliever Ryan Chaffee in the fifth, also hit a solo shot in a six-inning exhibition game Tuesday – giving him three homers in three days.

“I heard the fans saying ‘Do it again,’ but I was just trying to do something over second base to get two runs in with the bases loaded,” Liddi said. “What happened, I wasn’t trying to do.”

Liddi calls himself more of a line-drive hitter. He’s 4 for 11 (.364) with a team-leading eight RBIs this spring.

“I still need to get better and work on some things,” Liddi said.

Left-hander Erik Bedard moved closer to being ready for the Mariners’ starting rotation, allowing a run on three hits with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Bedard, coming off shoulder surgery that kept him out of the majors last season, threw 55 pitches in his third and longest outing of spring training.

“It wasn’t as good as the other (starts), but that’s what spring training’s for,” Bedard said. “Results are second and arm is first. When it feels good, it’s a positive.”