Seattle closer Kazuhiro Sasaki extended his preseason scoreless streak to nine innings Thursday when he allowed only one hit in the San Diego Padres' 7-4 victory over the Mariners in exhibition baseball.
Sasaki, who has 311 saves over his 11-year career as closer, took the mound in the fifth inning with the Mariners trailing by one run and yielded a single and a walk in a one-out situation, but retired the next two batters easily.
"I'm getting the hang of my curve balls now. It may be the best (spring training) so far. I'll be able to get off to a good start this season," Sasaki said after the game.