PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) _ Jose Mesa is out and Japan's Kazuhiro Sasaki is in as the Seattle Mariners' closer.

Mesa allowed two homers and six runs in the ninth inning to San Diego before the Mariners beat the Padres 12-11 on Brian Lesher's RBI single in the 10th on Thursday.

In the final game of spring training in Arizona for both teams, Mesa lost his closer's job to Sasaki, Japan's career saves leader, when he blew an 11-5 lead in the ninth.

Steve Soliz hit a three-run homer and Kevin Eberwein tied the score at 11 with a solo shot.

``Mesa's not pitching with confidence,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ``You can see it. His body language on the mound is not good. I think we're going to have to lessen his role and get him pitching to where he can be the pitcher he was for us last year.''

Mesa, 33, an All-Star with Cleveland in 1995 and 1996, tied the Mariners' team record with 33 saves last season in his first year with Seattle. Sasaki, 32, got 229 saves in 10 seasons with Yokohama in Japan's Central League.

Sasaki signed a two-year contract with the Mariners that will pay him $3.5 million this season. In eight spring games in Arizona, he compiled a 2.00 ERA in nine innings. He allowed two runs.

Mesa's bad performance on getaway day from Arizona left him with a 10.03 ERA in 11 games. He gave up 13 earned runs in 11 2-3 innings. He is in his final season of a two-year contract with Seattle that will pay him $3.7 million this year.

``We're going to go with Sasaki as our closer,'' Piniella said. ``He's throwing the ball better than anybody right now. Sure, it's a tough decision. You don't want to see somebody lose their job in spring training, but, my God, he's been ineffective.''

The Mariners open their AL season on Tuesday night at Safeco Field in Seattle against Boston.

Piniella said Mesa could reclaim his role by pitching well.

``But I feel much more comfortable right now with Sasaki in that role than anybody else we have,'' Piniella said. ``I think sometimes when you reduce the role that helps take care of things in itself.''

Mesa refused to comment on his demotion, but Sasaki, speaking through an intrepeter, said he welcomed the news of his elevation to the closer's role since that's one of the reasons why he decided to come to the United States and try major league baseball.

``If you make a bad pitch here, there's that possibility of a home run,'' said Sasaki, who didn't give up a homer in Arizona. ``In Japan, it might not result in that. So you have to really be careful on the spot where you spot the ball and the location of the pitch.'' ^Notes: RHP Freddy Garcia, a 17-game winner for the Mariners last season, made his fifth spring start and lowered his ERA from 9.69 to 7.71. He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks in 5 2-3 innings. ... C Dusty Wathan hit a homer for Seattle. ... RHP Buddy Carlyle, who will start this season at Triple-A Las Vegas, pitched two innings for the Padres and allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks. ... The Padres optioned OF Mike Darr to Las Vegas, of the Pacific Coast League.