Mariners get good production from shortstop candidates in win over Indians

Brad Miller hit two home runs, and Mike Zunino also connected as the Seattle Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3 on Monday in Peoria, Arizona.

Miller and Chris Taylor, both competing to be the starting shortstop, were in the lineup together in the absence of star second baseman Robinson Cano. Cano is away from the team after the death of his grandfather and expects to return Friday.

Miller got the start at shortstop and started a double play in the first inning by flipping the ball to Taylor.

Miller and Taylor each went 2 for 2, and Taylor doubled and singled.

“I’ll take them in singles, doubles, pairs, whatever,” said Miller, 4 for 6 during spring training. “It was awesome, especially early. We know we’re probably going to get a couple of at-bats, and you just want to make the most of them.”

Mariners reliever Tyler Olson (U-Hi, Gonzaga), competing for one of the left-hander spots in the bullpen, struck out the side in his lone inning of work. He hasn’t allowed a base runner in nine batters faced.

Taijuan Walker’s bid to make the starting rotation on opening day is off to a good start. After two scoreless innings last week, he faced the minimum nine batters in three shutout innings. Walker also struck out four.

“Everything felt good,” Walker said. “I guess I could probably work on my fastball command a little more. I threw it for strikes but not where I wanted to throw it sometimes.”

And Mark Lowe fanned all three batters in the ninth.

D.J. Peterson’s sacrifice fly drove in Ketel Marte with the winning run in the bottom half.

Mariners sign Correia

Seattle signed right-hander Kevin Correia to a minor league contract, and the 12-year veteran reported to camp.

Correia split last season between the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers, going a combined 7-17 with a 5.44 ERA in 32 games. He has also pitched for San Francisco, San Diego and Pittsburgh, compiling a 76-95 career mark in 353 games – including 216 starts.

Correia was an N.L. All-Star in 2011 with Pittsburgh.

Latin America move

The Mariners announced on Monday that they have consolidated Latin American baseball development operations at their Dominican Republic academy, moving players from their Venezuela facility to the island. They will field two teams in the Dominican Summer League, and no longer have an entry in Venezuela’s summer league.