Willkommen » inning, but was lifted after allowing four runs on eight hits

SEATTLE -- Jack Zduriencik does not see the Seattle Mariners making another splash signing before the start of spring training after an off-season of big moves highlighted by the signing of second baseman Robinson Cano. What he would like to acquire is another veteran pitcher to add to a starting rotation that has a pair of aces at the top and then a handful of promising prospects behind them without much major league experience. "I dont suspect well make a major move but we hopefully will do a couple of things that will be tweaks that help the club certainly for this year," Zduriencik said Thursday. How the rotation gets filled out will be one of the major questions when Seattle reports for spring training in the middle of February. Pitchers and catchers will be on the field Feb. 13 and the first full squad workout is Feb. 18. Seattle has the top of its rotation settled with former AL Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwkuama forming a formidable combo. But the bridge between that pair and some of the youngsters Seattle would like to see take the final spots in the rotation is the question. Asked if he was comfortable with how his rotation sits, Zduriencik said, "not tremendously." "I think there is certainly potential there. There are some things that have to come together. When youre placing a lot of faith and trust in young kids that have very short windows of success, thats risky," Zduriencik said. "I will say that theyre talented but how quickly they become legitimate major leaguers, is yet to be seen. There may be opportunities for us in the next period of time, few days or so, maybe well be able to add something to it." Manager Lloyd McClendon said he would be disappointed if top prospect Taijuan Walker didnt make the rotation out of spring training, but hes expected to contend with James Paxton, Erasmo Ramirez and Brandon Maurer for one of those final spots. There is not a higher-regarded prospect in the Mariners system than Walker. He was described by Zduriencik as the best athlete in the entire organization and he called his brief call-up at the end of last season "short and impressive." Walker made three starts for Seattle last season, going 1-0 with a 3.40 ERA. He struck out 12 batters in 15 innings pitched in his major league debut. "Hes young, hes talented, hes got a ton of ability. He has to acclimate himself to being a big league starting pitcher," Zduriencik said. "How quickly that comes, I dont know. Everybody is different." Aside from the rotation, Seattle also has significant questions about how its outfield will shake out, specifically centre field. The Mariners are hopeful that newly acquired outfielders Logan Morrison and Corey Hart are healthy enough to be regulars at the corner outfield spots. That leaves centre field jumbled with Dustin Ackley, Michael Saunders and Franklin Gutierrez as options. "As we roll into spring training its all up to them," Zduriencik said. "I cant tell you who the centre fielder is going to be. I can tell you who the candidates are. I cant tell you who the left fielder is going to be. I can tell you who the candidates are. ... If were going to be a really good ball club, lets see what happens in spring training. Its up to them." Paul Millsap Nuggets Jersey . The 20-year-old Inoue landed a series of combinations and the bout was stopped 2 minutes, 54 seconds into the sixth round. Inoue, the first Japanese boxer to claim a world title in just his sixth professional fight, improved to 6-0 with five knockouts. 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Around the league, teams are starting to take notice and feature Ross more predominately in their pre-game scouting reports but its not just the opposition that hes impressing.KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Mark Buehrle allowed two walks and both runners ended up scoring. So despite pitching into the seventh inning Thursday night, and helping the Toronto Blue Jays to a 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals that staved off a series sweep, the veteran left-hander still had something to ruminate over in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium. "Id rather give up 10 hits and no walks. I hate it. Make them earn it," Buehrle said. "But you know, our offence bounced back and the defence played well behind me." Apparently, nobody is tougher on Buehrle than Buehrle. Juan Francisco and Colby Rasmus each homered and drove in two runs, and Anthony Gose also had a pair of RBIs after getting recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to start in place of injured outfielder Melky Cabrera, helping Toronto avoid its first three-game sweep by the Royals since 1993. Buehrle (5-1) worked through plenty of trouble in 6 2-3 innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and those two walks. Aaron Loup pitched 2 1-3 shutout innings for his third career save. "(Buehrle) pitches to win," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "Hes going to do whatever it takes, and hes on a nice little roll. Hes having a good year for us." The Royals Jeremy Guthrie (2-2) left trailing 4-3 after six innings, but his bullpen was unable to keep it close. Billy Butler drove in a pair of runs, but that was just about it for Kansas City, which had its three-game winning streak come to an end. "He mixes speeds. He locates. He frustrates you," Butler said of Buehrle, no stranger to Kansas City having pitched for the AL Central rival White Sox. "He feeds off your over aggressiveness." The teams traded blows most of the way. Toronto struck first when Chris Getz singled in the first inning and then swiped bases all the way to third, where Edwin Encarnacion drove him in with a fielders choice. Kansas City answered in the second when Justin Maxwell walked and Alcides Escobar singled to righht.dddddddddddd. Jose Bautista flubbed the pickup, allowing Maxwell to score easily. The Royals pulled ahead in the third on Butlers single, though they squandered another scoring opportunity when Eric Hosmer was thrown out at home for the second straight night. The Blue Jays regained the lead the next half inning when Francisco, who had two homers in three at-bats off Guthrie last season, hit a two-run shot over the bullpen in right field. But the Royals answered again on Butlers two-out double to left in the bottom of the fifth. "Im seeing the ball good now," Butler said. "I knew it was going to come." The Royals kept shifting dramatically to deal with the Blue Jays left-handed power hitters, but it didnt matter when Rasmus came to bat in the sixth. He powered a 1-2 pitch right over the defence for a two-out homer that gave Toronto a 4-3 lead. "I was trying to go down and in and didnt get it there," Guthrie said. Guthrie finished off the inning, but was lifted after allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks in just six innings. His bumpy night stood in stark contrast to his last four outings against the Blue Jays, when he went 1-0 with a 1.44 ERA. The Blue Jays tacked on some insurance in the eighth. Rasmus drew a bases-loaded walk off Michael Mariot, and then Gose hit a two-run double off Louis Coleman that broke the game open. "It was definitely a big win," Loup said. "Close game like it was, back and forth, back and forth. Hopefully it gets us on a roll, gets us some wins." NOTES: Toronto selected the contract of INF Steve Tolleson from Triple-A Buffalo. INF Jonathan Diaz was optioned to Buffalo and OF Moises Sierra designated for assignment. ... Royals LHP Bruce Chen (back inflammation) is expected to go on the DL, manager Ned Yost said. It was unclear who will start in his place Saturday against Detroit. ... Cabrera got the night off after getting hit in the left shin Wednesday. Gibbons said he should be available for this weekends series in Pittsburgh. ' ' '