Japanese Mariners weigh anchor at plate

Tomokazu Taniguchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Sportswriter

PEORIA, Ariz.--The Seattle Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki and Munenori Kawasaki got their first hits of the spring in an intrasquad game on Sunday.

In his second at-bat, Suzuki singled to right to drive in a runner from third. Suzuki, who had been trying out a new batting style with far less front-leg movement, went back to a familiar front-leg swing in this game and seemed to have better timing.

Kawasaki, who is in camp after leaving the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a free agent and signing a minor league deal, tripled down the first-base line in his second at-bat.

He was driven in by the next batter, and shouted, "I did it! I did it!" as he returned to the bench.

In his first spring at-bats, Kawasaki said he had seen the ball well, but had still come up hitless. On Sunday, he at least had something to show for his efforts.