SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Chris Young tossed shutout ball in his Seattle debut Saturday, providing a much-needed pitching boost for the Mariners as they closed spring training with a 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. With pitchers Hisashi Iwakuma, Taijuan Walker and Stephen Pryor all sidelined, the Mariners signed Young on Thursday after he was released by Washington. The 34-year-old right-hander allowed four hits, struck out two and issued no walks in 4 2/3 innings as he moves into a rotation spot.

Robinson Cano was just the start. The Seattle Mariners didn’t stop with one major splash in trying to catch up with the best in the A.L. West.

Colby Lewis threw five scoreless innings for the Texas Rangers in a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Mariners starter Erasmo Ramirez held Texas to one run and three hits. The right-hander walked none and struck out six in five-plus innings and now has a 1.14 ERA in six spring outings.

Second baseman Robinson Cano had two more hits and Erasmo Ramirez (pictured) pitched four-hit ball for six innings, enhancing his chance of earning a spot in the Mariners’ rotation and helping Seattle beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0. Ramirez, who has a 0.96 ERA this spring, struck out four without allowing a walk. He hit one batter. “I was lucky sometimes because I missed the spot,” Ramirez said. “We have to make better 0-2 and 1-2 pitches,” M’s manager Lloyd McClendon said. “He got some balls up in the zone that he got away with. But for the most part, he threw the ball OK.” McClendon stopped short of announcing that Ramirez has won a spot in the rotation. Cano was 2 for 3 to raise his batting average to .567. Dustin Ackley went 3 for 4, lifting his average to .457. Joe Beimel, Fernando Rodney and Yoervis Medina each pitched a scoreless inning for the Mariners. – AP

PEORIA, Ariz. – The Mariners begin the regular season March 31 in Anaheim, Calif., against the Angels. Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon knows who he will send to the mound that night – Felix Hernandez.