San Diego 3, Seattle 2

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Terrence Long didn't mind being shipped from Oakland to San Diego. He's got a fresh start, and he's going to be aggressive with it.

Long hit a two-run homer on his first pitch of spring ball and Brian Buchanan had a solo shot, leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners Thursday in the teams' annual charity game.

Long connected in the second inning, driving the first pitch from Gil Meche into the grass behind right field.

"The last couple of years at Oakland, I felt I've lost my aggressiveness and ended up in bad hitter's counts," Long said. "This year, I'm just going to work on being more aggressive in the strike zone."

Ramon Hernandez, who arrived with Long from Oakland in an offseason trade for Mark Kotsay, was aboard after a leadoff walk.

Long is optimistic about his prospects with the Padres. He had a long talk with Oakland general manager Billy Beane after last season, and they agreed a change would be good for Long's career.

"Billy was great about the whole situation," Long said. "I've got all the respect in the world for him. He's always been honest with me. He gave me another chance to win. You can't argue with that."

One thing Long won't miss in Oakland is facing Seattle's rotation.

"Meche has a great arm," Long said. "We faced him a couple times toward the end of last season and he shut us down. They've got some great arms over there. I won't have to face them 19 times, so I'm happy about that."

Meche said he simply left a fastball for Long over the fat part of the plate. Despite that pitch, he felt good about his performance. He went two innings, allowing two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

"My main emphasis in camp is trying to get a low strike zone, even if it means having to take something off to make sure I get the ball down," Meche said. "In the second inning, I was able to do that after I gave up the home run."

The Mariners made it 2-1 in the second, when Raul Ibanez doubled off Ismael Valdez. Ibanez, who also singled in the fourth, scored when Scott Spiezio doubled off the fence in right.

Buchanan made it 3-1 in the fifth, hitting the first pitch from Julio Mateo over the fence in left.

San Diego starter Brian Lawrence got the win with one hitless inning, while Meche took the loss. Eddie Oropesa struck out three of the four batters he faced in the ninth for a save.

The Mariners loaded the bases with one out in the eighth off Japanese reliever Akinori Otsuka. Quinton McCracken walked, pulling Seattle to 3-2, but Willie Bloomquist couldn't beat out a close play at first when he grounded into a double play.

San Diego missed a chance to extend the lead in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs against Rett Johnson. J.J. Putz took over, though, getting a diving catch in foul territory from Bloomquist and a double play to end the threat.

Skies were cloudy after steady showers soaked the field all morning, but the rain ended by noon and fans crowded Peoria Stadium.

The game doesn't count in the Cactus League standings. All money raised from tickets, concessions and parking is donated to area charities.

Game notes
After his last name was spelled "Valdes" during his major league career, the pitcher requested this spring that his name be switched to "Valdez." He told the Padres that "Valdez" is how it's spelled on his birth certificate. ... Seattle DH Edgar Martinez was scratched as a precaution because of the wet weather. ... Mariners LHP Jamie Moyer will throw in Friday's game against Arizona, facing RHP John Patterson. ... The Padres visit Anaheim's complex Friday, with RHP Adam Eaton facing RHP John Lackey.