Seattle catcher Moore sidelined

MESA, Ariz. – On a day one Seattle Mariners veteran took a step toward prolonging his career, an oft-injured young catcher again found himself struggling to get out of the gate.

And for catcher Adam Moore, that career launch point will likely have to wait several months. Moore had been off to a torrid start at the plate this spring, but was fitted with a cast Thursday for what the team said was a fractured bone in a right wrist injured two days prior.

Moore was back in a doctor’s office in what’s becoming a yearly ritual. Reached by phone midway through Thursday’s game, Moore said he was still being evaluated and would speak about his situation this morning.

“He’s going to lose the spring at least,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. “When he does get healthy, he’s going to have to continue to play. That’s after he missed so much time last year, so, we’ll just have to take it as it comes.”

The difference this time over last year is that Moore – once touted as the team’s catcher of the future – is expected to be back at some point during the season. Wedge said it should be “sooner rather than later,” and that Moore will simply have to start over again.

“It’s tough for the kid,” Wedge said. “He’s just going to have to keep his chin up and fight through it again. It’s been some tough luck the last couple of years.”

Moore made the Mariners out of spring training last year, but he tore the meniscus in his knee the first weekend of the season and was done for the year. He was a long shot to make the squad this season, having tumbled on the depth chart behind Miguel Olivo, John Jaso and even Jesus Montero – a rookie the Mariners aren’t even sure can play the position regularly.

But on the day Moore broke his wrist blocking a ball, he stayed in that contest against the Reds and finished 2 for 2 with a two-run double. That lifted his spring total to 4 for 6 with a home run, the double, four runs scored and three runs batted in.

It was the kind of offensive surge needed by Moore to get back on the organization’s radar, similar to how Michael Saunders has done the same thus far after revamping his offensive approach.

Now, Moore will wait to see how long this latest injury keeps him out.

Ackley stays hot

Dustin Ackley hit a three-run homer to extend his torrid start to spring training, and the Seattle Mariners beat the Chicago Cubs 10-3.

Ackley is 5 for 11 with four hits for extra bases: two doubles, a triple and a home run.

Mariners starter Kevin Millwood allowed only one run on four hits in three innings, while Cubs starter Chris Volstad allowed one hit in three scoreless innings in his debut.