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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • Seattle Mariners (External Link) • Schedule (External Link) • Stats (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: Sunday, May 11, 2008 Mariners update Today's game Opponent: Chicago White Sox When: 1:10 p.m. Where: Safeco Field TV: Fox Sports Net Radio: KOMO (1000 AM) Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Miguel Batista (2-4, 5.66 earned run average) vs. right-hander Gavin Floyd (3-1, 2.50). Sexson's suspension reduced to five games The Mariners began life without first baseman Richie Sexson on Saturday when he began serving his suspension after Thursday night's brawl with the Texas Rangers. Major League Baseball heard Sexson's case via conference call Saturday afternoon and cut his suspension by a game to five games. Sexson was satisfied with the outcome and pleased to begin serving it immediately, although there was one possible drawback for the offensively deprived Mariners. He has a career .400 batting average against Saturday night's White Sox starter, Javier Vazquez. "It's better to get it over with now," Sexson said. "I don't want to get hot in August and then have to serve the suspension." Sexson is batting .202 with seven home runs and 18 runs batted in. He was in the clubhouse Saturday afternoon and worked out before the game, but stayed inside during the game. He'll do the same today during the final game of the homestand and stay in Seattle and work out on his own when the Mariners play Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Texas. Sexson said he expects no problems between the Mariners and Rangers when they get together again, although Felix Hernandez and Kason Gabbard, the two pitchers involved in the fracas Thursday, are scheduled to start Tuesday. "Nothing's going to happen there," Sexson said. "It's done." Hernandez had hit two Rangers batters and Sexson said he expected to be hit by a pitch when he batted in the bottom of the fourth inning. Gabbard's first pitch was over the plate but head-high to Sexson, who immediately charged the mound. He threw his helmet into Gabbard's back before tackling the pitcher on the mound. "There have been seven-game suspensions, there have been 10," Sexson said. "With the helmet, I'm happy with five." Lineup juggle: Manager John McLaren said he would "mix and match" at first base while Sexson is out, and Miguel Cairo was the best fit Saturday. There was more to McLaren's lineup decision than replacing Sexson. He benched shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt in an effort to temper his free-swinging ways and moved second baseman Jose Lopez from second to fifth in the batting order. "There was a lot of thought that went into the lineup," McLaren said. "I thought we needed more punch in the middle, and that's why we moved Lopez down." As for Betancourt, McLaren said he needed at least a game off after a series of poor at-bats. Betancourt had gone 2-for-20 on the homestand. "We're going to give him a chance to step back," McLaren said. "He's been pressing and swinging more and more at bad pitches." RIP with RISP: The Mariners entered Saturday batting .224 with runners in scoring position, including .189 with two outs. By contrast, the White Sox, whose .235 team batting average was last in the league, were batting .268 with runners in scoring position. "We've reached a stage where it's definitely a mental challenge," McLaren said. "It's not about mechanics. "We've just got to get back to the basic fundamentals. Think about situational hitting, what you want to do and what the pitcher is trying to do. Runner at second, move him over and move him in. It seems we get caught up in the situation and just swing." Of note: Sexson's suspension means the Mariners will play with 24 players, and that has hampered an already difficult bench situation. Betancourt, backup catcher Jamie Burke and DH Jose Vidro comprised the bench on Saturday, and Vidro remains slowed by back spasms. … McLaren said he chuckled at the crowd's reaction when the Mariners scored their first run Friday to break a 27-inning scoreless streak. "The fans were jumping up and cheering and throwing their hands up (in mock celebration)," he said. "You had to laugh at it. We're at the stage right now when we need a good laugh. At the same time, we need a win in the worst way." … Phillippe Aumont, the Mariners' first-round draft pick last year, hasn't allowed an earned run in six appearances (17 2/3 innings) this season for Class A Wisconsin. He has 20strikeouts. Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer

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