TOKYO (AP) — Hisashi Iwakuma had a shaky return to Japan on Monday, giving up six runs over four innings in the Seattle Mariners’ 9-3 loss to the Yomiuri Giants in an exhibition game.
Dustin Ackley hit a solo homer to left in the top of the first off Yomiuri’s D.J. Houlton at Tokyo Dome. Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder John Bowker tied it with a solo shot off Iwakuma in the bottom of the first.
Iwakuma spent 12 seasons in Japanese professional baseball before signing with the Mariners in the offseason. He gave up five more runs before leaving after the fourth.
The Mariners are in Japan to open major league season against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday and Thursday.
