Par for the course

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Most starting pitchers would happily take two scoreless innings with two hits allowed, a walk and a strikeout for their first spring-training outing.

Most starting pitchers aren’t Felix Hernandez.

The Mariners’ ace was matter-of-fact about his first start in the Mariners’ 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“It was OK,” he said. “I’m not too happy. But I’m OK.”

Of course, Hernandez’s “OK” game is better than most.

Facing a lineup featuring Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramirez, Andre Ethier and Juan Uribe, Hernandez didn’t have it easy.

His first pitch of the game – a low fastball down the middle – was spanked by Puig into the gap for a double. Puig isn’t afraid to swing at any pitch in any situation. Hernandez knew there was a good chance he’d hack at the first one.

“I was going to throw fastball anyway,” Hernandez said. “That was a good swing.”

With first base open, Hernandez then walked Crawford on four pitches.

“I was going to walk him to try and get the double play,” Hernandez said.

He did just that, getting Ramirez to hit into a textbook 6-4-3 on a ground ball to shortstop Brad Miller. With Puig on third, Hernandez struck out Ethier to end the inning.

In the second inning, Hernandez gave up a one-out single to Uribe and wild-pitched him to second on a changeup in the dirt. But he threw a pair of ground-ball outs to end the inning.

“Felix did a good job,” said M’s manager Lloyd McClendon.

Notes

• 3B Kyle Seager returned to the lineup after missing four games with a jammed finger. Seager went 1 for 4 with a RBI.

• C Mike Zunino ripped a pair of doubles in the win – one down the left-field line and one to right-center field.

• 2B Ketel Marte got his first Cactus League start. He had a single, stole a base and made a couple nice plays defensively.

• Closer Fernando Rodney will pitch in his first live action against the White Sox in Glendale.

• McClendon said that pitcher Taijuan Walker is progressing as planned and should play catch on Thursday.