PEORIA, Ariz. ? Miguel Batista loves the way Seattle’s infielders are playing defense behind him.

Batista pitched four solid innings Friday, getting nine groundball outs and two double plays in the Mariners’ 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

An 11-game winner with Arizona last season, the 36-year-old Batista said he had heard about the superior range of Seattle’s steady infield. He signed with the Mariners as a free agent on Dec. 14.

In three spring training starts, Batista has a 2-0 record with a 3.00 earned-run average – and a strong belief in his new defense.

“They’re showing me that I don’t need to be too fine,” Batista said. “They can catch the ball.”

The right-hander didn’t give up a run in the first three innings, allowing two hits. He got into trouble in the fourth when his first four batters reached base. But a double play and a groundout limited the Royals to two runs.

Seattle’s regulars supplied the offense. Ichiro Suzuki had an RBI double and Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer as the Mariners jumped out to an early 4-0 lead.

Kenji Johjima and Ben Broussard had two hits apiece, while Willie Bloomquist went 4-for-4 with an RBI to increase his batting average to .500.

“As a pitching staff, it’s something that we’re really excited about, to know that we don’t have to be too perfect,” Batista said. “If we fall behind a run or two, they can always come back.”