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Seattle Mariners

Fister struggles early, but Mariners come back against Cubs

Seattle overcame starting pitcher Doug Fister’s early struggles to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Monday. (Associated Press)
Seattle overcame starting pitcher Doug Fister’s early struggles to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Monday. (Associated Press)

PEORIA, Ariz. – Seattle Mariners right-hander Doug Fister knows that when he doesn’t keep the baseball down in the strike zone, he’ll get hit. The Chicago Cubs did that to him Monday, scoring twice in the first inning and threatening with runners in every other inning Fister pitched in his fourth spring training start.

His 4 1/3-innings was the longest by a Mariners starter this spring, and his bend-but-not-break outing helped Seattle come back for a 5-3 victory.

Meanwhile, left-hander Nate Robertson, signed to a minor-league contract in January and battling for a spot in the rotation, will have surgery Wednesday to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow and will be out indefinitely.