Arrow-right Camera
Subscribe now
Seattle Mariners

Iwakuma excited – and relieved

HOUSTON – It may not have been the type of All-Star-caliber outing Hisashi Iwakuma delivered with such regularity last season, but his first outing of 2014 was better than many the Mariners have received so far this season.

Iwakuma pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts to pick up his first win of the season. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t allowed to throw a baseball for the first six weeks of the season, endured a deliberately cautious recovery program and made only one rehab start before stepping on the mound Saturday.

“He threw the ball extremely well,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “I was very pleased.”

Iwakuma was also pleased with his first outing.

“I feel relieved right now,” he said. “I was very excited before the game. I was able to focus during the game and I was able to pitch my game. I’m very happy right now.”

Seattle Times