PEORIA, Ariz. -- Erik Bedard had a simple goal for his first outing since March 5.
"I was just trying to feel healthy," he said.
Bedard pitched one inning in theSeattle Mariners' 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, allowing one run and two hits. The left-hander, who had been sidelined with sore buttocks, also issued a walk.
"I was just throwing pitches, trying to get people out as I do usually," he said. "My [butt] feels good and that's that. Just warming up I knew it was fine."
Russell Branyan homered and Adrian Beltre had two hits for the Mariners in the split-squad game.
Hiroki Kuroda gave up two runs, one earned, and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings for Los Angeles. The right-hander struck out one and walked one.
"I wasn't really able to pitch my game today," Kuroda said. "No matter how much you prepare yourself you're going to have days like this throughout the season. I think I was able to get something out of it."
Kuroda pitched with runners on base in every inning. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Branyan in the second and allowed an unearned run later in the inning before settling down.
It's the first time in four spring starts that the 34-year-old Japanese pitcher has given up a run in his bid to be the Dodgers' opening-day starter. Kuroda had allowed only three hits over his previous 8 2/3 innings before laboring against the Mariners.
"If he gets out of that second inning it looks a little different," said hitting coach Don Mattingly, who served as the Dodgers skipper while Joe Torre managed the other split-squad team in a 10-8 loss to Oakland in Phoenix. "We're more worried about those guys getting their work and getting sharp and building up strength. He worked quick today and he looked pretty good."
Kuroda had a more mixed review of his performance.
"There are good times and bad times, and as a good pitcher you have to do well on a bad day," Kuroda said. "Any pitcher can throw their games on a good day but my job is to throw well even if I think it's a bad day. Overall I feel pretty well. This is only my second year in the United States and I think I'm at a place where I should be."
Mel Stocker had three hits and drove in two runs for the Mariners. Tyson Gillies went 3-for-4.
Blake DeWitt had three hits for the Dodgers. Mitch Jones homered and Orlando Hudson and Xavier Paul added two hits apiece.
Notes
Dodgers LF Manny Ramirez did not play in either of the split-squad games after aggravating his sore left hamstring against Colorado on Sunday. The 36-year-old Ramirez began working out with the Dodgers on March 4, a day after re-signing with the team by agreeing to a $45 million, two-year contract. ... The Mariners started trimming their roster, optioning RHP Stephen Kahn to the minors and reassigning OF Freddy Guzman to their minor league camp. ... Several Dodgers players, including Russell Martin and Mark Loretta, will appear on The Price is Right game show on Wednesday.
