SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Gil Meche's back feels better, which is great news for the Kansas City Royals.
Meche threw 55 pitches Wednesday and Kansas City beat the Seattle Mariners 9-2 behind home runs by Billy Butler and Mitch Maier.
Meche was making only his second Cactus League start after being slowed by back spasms. He tossed 2 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, five hits and two walks. The right-hander last worked in a "B" game Friday against Texas.
"I felt like I improved from my last start just as far as arm speed and stuff," Meche said. "I hit a wall in the third. I got a little tired. I threw a lot of pitches in the second. I saw some progress. My curveball was a little bit sharper. Most of all, my fastball was a little better until I got tired in the third. I had an idea I'd be a little gassed going back out there. It is only going to help me, kind of breaking down and getting tired. I'm trying to build up some arm strength."
He said he had "no problem" with his back.
"I'm not feeling it whatsoever," Meche said. "I don't think that's an issue anymore. It's just a matter of building from here on out and getting ready. I've got four or five starts left. Obviously, the stamina is the most important thing to build before we get out of here. I'm running and lifting, getting back to doing things I normally want to do but I couldn't do with my back two weeks ago."
Chris Jakubauskas is a long shot to make Seattle's opening day roster, but he certainly helped his chances.
Jakubauskas pitched three hitless innings in an emergency start. He replaced left-hander Erik Bedard, scratched from his scheduled outing due to a sore left hip.
"Right now we're not concerned because it's not in the hip joint -- it's more in the muscle," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "I think it's just really about being on the mound again. This is more muscle soreness. He had some stiffness in there about four days ago, and we thought it was best at this point to rest it a little bit. It might be a blessing to get his arm a little bit of a break, too."
Jakubauskas walked one and struck out two after learning he would start from pitching coach Rick Adair.
"I knew I was pitching. I did not know I was starting," Jakubauskas said. "It was a pleasant surprise this morning when I walked in the clubhouse and Rick came up and asked me how I was feeling and told me I was starting. I felt pretty good about that. I was excited. I've been a starter my whole life. I'm used to the routine. I felt better than I have all spring. My location was good. I was throwing my off-speed where I wanted to and getting contact early in the count. I'll take three scoreless, hitless innings any day of the week."
Butler hit a three-run homer and Maier a two-run shot in a six-run fourth against Justin Thomas, who gave up six runs and retired only one of the seven batters he faced.
Notes
Penne Moore, the mother of Royals general manager Dayton Moore, died Tuesday after a lengthy illness in Houston. Kansas City manager Trey Hillman will leave camp after Thursday's game and miss the split-squad doubleheader Friday to attend the funeral in Kansas. In his absence, Hall of Famer George Brett will manage against Texas, while bench coach John Gibbons will manage against Milwaukee in Maryvale. Hillman plans to be back for Saturday's game. ... Although the Dominican Republic was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, it might be a few days before OF Jose Guillen returns to Royals camp. He was given permission by the club to be with his wife, Yamel, who is expecting the couple's first child any day in Miami. ... INF Mark Teahen returned to Royals camp after Canada was eliminated from the WBC. ... Royals LHP John Bale, who had thyroid surgery last week, played catch.
