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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • Seattle Mariners (External Link)   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, March 31, 2008 Mariners update Opening series Opponent: Texas Rangers When: 3:40 p.m. today, 7:10 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Where: Safeco Field TV: Fox Sports Net all three games. Radio: KOMO (1000 AM) all three games. Pitchers: Today -- Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard (13-5, 3.16 earned run average in 2007 with the Orioles) vs. right-hander Kevin Millwood (10-14, 5.16). Tuesday -- Right-hander Felix Hernandez (14-7, 3.92) vs. right-hander Vicente Padilla (6-10, 5.76). Wednesday -- Right-hander Carlos Silva (13-14, 4.19 for the Twins) vs. right-hander Jason Jennings (2-9, 6.45 for the Astros). A day of celebration: Fans who show up by the first pitch at 3:40 p.m. today will be too late. Opening day brings not only the first game of the season, but a set of pregame festivities that happen once a year. Spectator gates will open at 1:40 p.m. following a countdown outside the home-plate entrance at 1:30. Pregame ceremonies, beginning at 3 p.m., will feature music by the Jackson High School band from Mill Creek; the National Anthem by Seattle Opera tenor Marcus Shelton; and flag presentation by the Whatcom County firefighters. Also, Ichiro Suzuki will receive his Gold Glove award and J.J. Putz will be honored for winning the Relief Man of the Year award. The first-pitch baseball will arrive at the ballpark after a month-long, 20-stop tour of Northwest communities. Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus, who will be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame in July, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Ten-year-old Ben Comer of Renton will make the ceremonial first run around the bases. Weather watching: Last year, the Mariners were snowed out of their four-game road series at Cleveland on their first trip of the season, and the impact lasted much of the season. It messed up the starting pitching and forced the M's to make up the games on days off, putting further strain on the pitching. "That followed us around all season," manager John McLaren said. Don't look now, but the weather isn't looking so good this weekend in Baltimore. That's where the Mariners are scheduled for a four-game series beginning Friday, their only scheduled trip to Baltimore this year. Rain is forecast both Friday and Saturday, with partly cloudy conditions Sunday and Monday. Of note: Today's game is a sellout, although there are plenty of seats available for games Tuesday and Wednesday. … Give-aways this week include magnetic schedules today and commemorative military coins Tuesday on Armed Forces Night. … The Mariners remind fans that all bags are subject to inspection at the stadium gates. Bags larger than 16 by 16 by 8 inches aren't allowed inside the ballpark. Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer

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