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Seattle Mariners

MLB tests new replay in Twins-Jays game

Associated Press

Standing at first base, Chris Rahl realized he was probably destined to become the answer to a trivia question.

“It’s kind of funny. I was thinking, ‘Is this the first one?’ ” the Minnesota runner said Monday.

Indeed it was, the first call to be reviewed under Major League Baseball’s expanded replay system this season.

MLB has expanded replay this year beyond potential home runs and boundary calls. This season, most every play except for balls-and-strikes is subject to a review, with calls coming from a replay booth in New York.

For this Toronto Blue Jays-Twins spring training game, the replay booth was a satellite truck outside the ballpark. The umpires rotated between the field and booth, becoming familiar with the system.

In the sixth inning of the game in Fort Myers, Fla., Toronto manager John Gibbons used his challenge. He asked umpires for a review after Rahl was called safe at first when shortstop Munenori Kawasaki’s throw pulled Jared Goedert off the bag.

First base umpire Fieldin Culbreth said Gibbons told him: “I’m not too sure that you’re not right here, but since we haven’t done it before, let’s go take a look.”

Culbreth responded: “OK. That’s what it’s for.”

The umpires gathered in front of the first base dugout while umpire Brian O’Nora watched the replays. After a wait of 2 minutes, 34 seconds, Culbreth spread his hands in the safe sign.

His original call was upheld.

Cano, Ackley stay hot

Robinson Cano had two hits and an RBI and Dustin Ackley had a three-run double among his two hits as the Seattle Mariners beat the Colorado Rockies 8-1 in a split squad Cactus League game in Peoria, Ariz.

In four games, Ackley is hitting .600 with a home run, three doubles and six RBIs.

Seattle starter Blake Beavan allowed a run and four hits in three innings.

M’s defeat Reds

Brad Miller hit a solo homer for Seattle and Chris Taylor had a grand slam off minor league pitcher Chad Rogers as the Mariners rallied for a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in another split-squad game, this one in Goodyear, Ariz.

Lincecum, Johnson sharp

Two starting pitchers looking to rejuvenate their careers, right-handers Josh Johnson of San Diego and Tim Lincecum of San Francisco, made successful spring debuts in the Padres’ 7-2 victory over the Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Johnson pitched two hitless innings and struck out two. He was on the disabled list for part of 2013 and had surgery on Oct. 1 to remove bone spurs and loose cartilage in his right elbow.Lincecumgave up a hit, walked one and struck out one in two innings.

Maybin injured

San Diego Padres center fielder Cameron Maybin is going to be out two to three months after rupturing his left biceps tendon during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.