Japanese catcher Kenji Jojima delivered his first hit of the spring as he went 1-for-3 in the Seattle Mariners' 17-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Saturday.
Kenji Jojima of the Seattle Mariners connects for a single in the second inning of a preseason game against the San Diego Padres in Peoria, Ariz.
Jojima, who batted seventh in the lineup, singled to right with two outs in the second inning before grounding out to shortstop and lining out to third in his other at-bats. He was also impressive behind the plate, catching a runner stealing second in the third.
"I've been able to see the pitches and swing the bat well," said Jojima, the former Softbank Hawks star who signed a three-year contract with Seattle.
In Tampa, Florida, Hideki Matsui, who is nursing a swollen left knee, started in the designated hitter role in his first game appearance this spring and went 1-for-2 with a walk in the New York Yankees' 4-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
In Jupiter, Florida, So Taguchi went 2-for-4 with a double down the left-field line and an infield single in the St. Louis Cardinals' 9-0 loss to the Florida Marlins.
Elsewhere, Kazuo Matsui was 0-for-2 in the New York Mets' 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals in Port St. Lucie, Florida, going hitless for the third game in a row.
Chicago White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi was hitless for the third consecutive game in an 0-for-3 outing in a 13-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cleveland Indians right-hander Kazuhito Tadano pitched a scoreless ninth in a 7-3 win over the Minnesota Twins.