MLB: Ross, Burrell homer in win over Dodgers

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - The San Francisco Giants put together a late surge to win the NL West, storm through the playoffs and capture the World Series title last year.

They haven't slowed down yet.

Cody Ross and Pat Burrell each hit a two-run homer and the San Francisco Giants rallied for an 8-7 win over a Los Angeles Dodgers split-squad Saturday.

San Francisco pushed across two runs with two out in the ninth inning to improve to a major league best 13-4 this spring. Thomas Neal scored the tying run on a wild pitch and rookie Gary Brown ended the game with an RBI single.

"There is still a hunger. You can tell," Giants closer Brian Wilson said. "The guys come in here fired up. We have to work harder. We can't stop working. We saw last year that the time and effort does pay off."

Wilson, who turns 29 on Wednesday, pitched a scoreless sixth inning. The right-hander has worked three innings over three appearances after being slowed by a stiff back early in camp.

"I just basically had a personal talk with it (the discomfort) and told it, "I don't want you in my body anymore,"' Wilson said.

Los Angeles scored four times in the eighth to take a 7-6 lead in front of a record crowd of 12,081 at Scottsdale Stadium. Andre Ethier had a bases-loaded triple and Elian Herrera delivered a sacrifice fly.

Jonathan Sanchez was scheduled to start for San Francisco, but manager Bruce Bochy decided to have the left-hander avoid the Dodgers by pitching him against minor leaguers.


Mariners 10, Athletics 2

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Justin Smoak is starting to see the results of all his hard work at the plate.

Smoak hit a two-run homer and finished with four RBIs, leading the Seattle Mariners to an 10-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

"Been working on a few things," said Smoak, who began spring training with a 2-for-18 slide. "Offensively, just trying to stay in the middle of the field and (Saturday) was good, both my hits were in the middle of the field. If I can stay there, hopefully good things will happen for me."

Smoak, who also had a two-run single in the fourth inning, is expected to start at first base on opening day.

Milton Bradley collected two more hits for Seattle and is 7 for 18 with a team-high three doubles this spring. Chone Figgins, Josh Bard and Jack Cust also drove in runs for the Mariners.

Seattle starter Blake Beavan pitched three innings, allowing a run and three hits.

"It's always nice to face the heart of the lineup for any team because you get to see how your stuff is," Beavan said.

Mark Ellis, Ryan Sweeney and Kevin Kouzmanoff had two hits apiece for Oakland. Guillermo Moscoso pitched three innings for the A's, yielding four runs and six hits.

"First time he got hit around a little bit," manager Bob Geren said of Moscoso, who is in contention for the fifth starter slot. "They had a pretty good lineup in there and hit some balls we didn't run down really well. It wasn't one of his better outings."

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