PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) - Hold the alarms over Milwaukee ace Ben Sheets and Seattle star Felix Hernandez allowing nine runs in a combined 7 1-3 innings as the Brewers beat the Mariners 8-4 on Sunday.

Fly balls became home runs and defenders dropped pop ups on a windy, cold day. The sun-baked infield continued to play extremely fast.

That's why Brewers manager Ned Yost isn't worried about his presumed opening day starter.

"No, he's not scuffling," Yost said after Sheets allowed seven hits and four runs in three innings. He was supposed to go longer.

Raul Ibanez lofted a fly ball off Sheets in the first inning that had Ichiro Suzuki heading back to first base to tag up. The ball got into the wind and sailed over the left-center field wall for a two-run home run.

Seattle's fourth and final run of the inning came after Brad Wilkerson's ground ball rolled up the arm of first baseman Eric Munson. A single by Richie Sexson in the second went through the top of shortstop J.J. Hardy's glove. Second baseman Rickie Weeks later dropped a pop fly.

"It's hard to play down here," Yost said. "Everybody has trouble playing down here."

Mariners manager John McLaren agreed. His concern was with how Hernandez, Seattle's new No. 2 starter now that Erik Bedard has arrived to be the new ace, reacted to the conditions and their predictable results.

The 21-year-old entered the first truly inclement day of the month having allowed two runs in three starts. He then allowed three in the first inning - the final two on a home run by Corey Hart. Hernandez angrily snapped his glove while receiving a new ball from catcher Jamie Burke.

In the fourth, J.J. Hardy sent a soaring home run onto a back walkway well beyond left field, a drive that didn't need the wind to get out. Hernandez again angrily snapped his glove at the toss of a new ball from umpire Delfin Colon.

"I could tell he got a little frustrated out there," McLaren said. "That's part of growing up. It's a work in progress."

Hernandez bemoaned falling behind hitters, who then waited for his fastball and pounced on it.

"I'm fine," he said. "I'm 100 percent ready," for the real season that begins March 31.

Hernandez allowed seven hits and five runs in 4 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.

McLaren tried to joke with his young gun that he couldn't even make it through five innings.

"How could I?" Hernandez replied. "You took me out."

J.J. Putz, Seattle's All-Star closer in 2007, ignored the wind while blowing away three Brewers on strikeouts in the eighth for his second consecutive scoreless appearance. His split-fingered fastball appears to be nearing season-ready form.

Ryan Braun, last season's NL rookie of the year, was a late scratch because of a tight right Achilles tendon. He has played just once in the last five days, but Yost said that's because the Brewers are being overly cautious.

"He wants to play through it," Yost said. "It just doesn't make sense for that to happen."