Major League Baseball

Mariners 5, Cubs 3

Published Mar. 15, 2011 2:48 a.m. ET

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This was the sort of performance the Cubs were expecting from Matt Garza.

The right-hander had a positive outing for his new team Monday, pitching four solid innings in Chicago's 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Acquired from Tampa Bay this winter in an eight-player trade, Garza had struggled in two of his first three appearances with the Cubs. He was much better against Seattle, giving up a run and three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

It was a vast improvement over his previous start last Wednesday, when he gave up six earned runs and four hits while walking four in 2 2-3 innings against Kansas City.

''There's still some things I've got to iron out,'' Garza said. ''Overall, I felt good. Really wanted to extend, didn't do that, but I was able to use all my pitches. I threw stuff in counts I wouldn't normally throw it, but (Monday) was a day to get everything used.''

Garza pitched a no-hitter against Detroit last season while going 15-10 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts.

Adam Kennedy, 3 for 19 going into the game, drove in two runs with a sixth-inning single for the Mariners, an inning after Chone Figgins doubled in the tying run.

Figgins and Justin Smoak, a pair of projected starters, had two hits each. Josh Wilson was 2 for 2 and scored twice. The Mariners are unbeaten in eight straight spring games, including an extra-inning tie.

Seattle starter Doug Fister threw 4 1-3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits. He walked three in his fourth start of spring training.

''It starts with the starting pitcher, and Fister did a good job of grabbing back control of the ballgame and working like he needed to work,'' Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. ''We're working to execute offensively and do the things that we need to do to create opportunities for ourselves.''

Ex-Mariner Bryan LaHair doubled in two runs in the first inning for the Cubs.

NOTES: Mariners LHP Nate Robertson will have arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow. Robertson, a nine-year major league veteran with previous elbow issues, signed a minor league contract with Seattle in January. He is expected to resume throwing in four weeks, but it could be summer before he can pitch in a game. ... LHP Erik Bedard, who has made three starts for the Mariners this spring, will pitch in a minor league game Tuesday even though the team has an off day. ... C Miguel Olivo, rehabbing a strained abductor, has resumed light tossing - but no timetable has been set for his return. ... The Mariners optioned RHP Chaz Roe to Triple-A Tacoma and reassigned LHP Chris Seddon to minor league camp. ... Garza, who had been in the American League until this season, had two sacrifices.

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