A packed house of 10,900 got to see a three-time NL All-Star closer in action for the first time in 2012 Sunday as the San Francisco Giants beat the Seattle Mariners 7-5.
Dark-bearded closer Brian Wilson got a standing ovation from Giants fans at their spring training home as he jogged to the mound to start the fourth inning. Wilson, who said he noticed the cheering, allowed a hit but finished his nine-pitch day with a strikeout-throwout double play.
"The way my brain works is, if there's not a lot of adrenaline pumping then I don't feel normal," Wilson said. "In situations like pitching in a live game, whether it's nerves or what not, I always feel calm because it just feels normal to me to be out on the mound. It's just where I live.
Wilson pitched last season with a tender right elbow.
"I know it's still going to be on people's mind, it's just one inning. We'll see how the next nine go and then opening day, All-Star break, playoffs," he said.
Wilson's catcher was 2010 NL Rookie of the Year Buster Posey, who played in his second spring training game after his left leg was wrecked in a home plate collision last May. Posey went 0 for 2 at the plate, but both he and Wilson were glad to be working together again.
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Posey ran to first base and also made a couple of throws down to second base.
"It's nice just to kind of have some different situations," Posey said. "As much as I went them (innings) to be 1-2-3, I think for my own sake it's good to have a little bit longer innings and to test it a little bit."
Posey said throwing felt normal, and he expects to play four innings again Tuesday. His goal is to be ready for opening day.
"Good day for him to go four innings, he looks like he's over the hump," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Hector Sanchez hit two homers and drove in three runs for the Giants, and Melky Cabrera and Gregor Blanco had two hits each.
NOTES: Giants ace Tim Lincecum, who has struggled in his first two spring training starts, is scheduled for his third start Monday against Kansas City. Lincecum has allowed six earned runs on 11 hits in four innings of work this spring... P Ryan Vogelsong is expected to get three starts before spring training ends, Bochy said. Vogelsong is coming back from a lower back injury.
