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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: Monday, May 12, 2008 Mariners update Next series Opponent: Texas Rangers When: 5:05 p.m. today and Tuesday, 11:05 a.m. Wednesday Where: The Ballpark at Arlington TV: Fox Sports Net, all three games Radio: KOMO (1000 AM), all three games Pitchers: Today -- Seattle left-hander Erik Bedard (2-2, 1.99 earned run average) vs. right-hander Vicente Padilla (5-2, 3.02). Tuesday -- Right-hander Felix Hernandez (2-3, 3.42) vs. right-hander Kason Gabbard (1-0, 1.85). Wednesday -- Right-hander Carlos Silva (3-2, 4.33) vs. right-hander Scott Feldman (1-1, 4.07). Line 'em up, set 'em down After a month of uncertainty about how good the Mariners' bullpen is this year, they're finally in a position to start showing it. The relievers were a key element in Sunday's 6-3 victory over the White Sox when Arthur Rhodes, Sean Green, Brandon Morrow and J.J. Putz pitched 32/3 shutout innings. The bullpen has a 2.50 earned run average this month. Not including the four runs Cha Seung Baek allowed in 42/3 innings of relief in last Tuesday's blowout loss to the Rangers, the bullpen ERA is 0.19 in May. Sunday's finish was exactly what the Mariners had wanted from the beginning. "This is how they envisioned it when they put this team together," said Morrow, who struck out Carlos Quentin and Jim Thome to snuff the White Sox in the eighth inning before Putz pitched the ninth for his third save. "We haven't had that too many times. It's good to get in there and get a hold, then get J.J. in there for the save." The Mariners had hoped to see this kind of relief from the beginning, but injuries tossed the bullpen roles into disarray. Putz developed a sore rib the first week of the season and Morrow had a sore shoulder and didn't join the team until April 17. "Just being able to line up and match up the way we want, that's going to help your rhythm for sure," Putz said. "Once we got the lead, Arthur comes in to face a big lefty in a big situation and gets him out. Green has been solid all year and so has Morrow. With those guys, you've got to feel comfortable with a lead." No at-bat was quite like the Morrow-Thome confrontation with two outs and a runner on first base in the eighth. Morrow already had struck out Quentin with a 98 mph fastball, and he had a 2-2 count on Thome when he tried to get him to chase a changeup. Thome didn't, running the count to 3-2 and setting up a strength-against-strength moment. "I wasn't going to throw the changeup for a strike; it's not a pitch I'm going to get beat on," Morrow said. "But on 3-2 with a guy on, I'm not putting another one on base. I'm going fastball." He did, at 97 mph, and Thome swung through it. "It didn't even look like he reached back for it," Putz said. "He's got an electric arm, that's for sure." Morrow's take: "I tried to throw it as hard as I could. It worked out. Since I've come back, we've been scuffling so I haven't had a lot of opportunities to pitch in tight situations. It's good to be in there and get the adrenaline pumping a little bit." Proudly in pink: From pink lineup cards to the pink highlights in Nick Swisher's hair, the Mariners and White Sox did their part Sunday to promote breast cancer awareness. All of the players wore a small pink ribbon on their jerseys, most wore pink wristbands and several used pink bats. Many Mariners wore pink necklaces, although relief pitcher Mark Lowe's was a stylish pink and gray weave. The woven necklace came from strength coach Allen Wirtala, who has a friend who makes them, and it was a good fit for Lowe's casual fashion style. "I have a camo-colored one that I wear all the time," Lowe said. "These are pretty cool. We probably could make some money selling these at the fair." Of note: Mariners manager John McLaren said Jarrod Washburn, whose lack of a true "out" pitch has hurt him in a 2-5 start, has been throwing a splitter his past two outings. … Green appeared in his 21st game Sunday, most by a pitcher in the American League. He has pitched in eight of the past 14 games. … Raul Ibanez doesn't expect any problems when the Mariners and Rangers play a three-game series beginning today at Arlington. Richie Sexson charged the mound to spark a bench-clearing incident in their last meeting Thursday. "I don't think about that," Ibanez said. "I just go out there and play the game. We've got to focus on winning first." … The Mariners are 15-8 when they score four or more runs in a game. … Ibanez's home run came on a 3-0 count, the first Mariners homer on 3-0 since he also did it Sept. 14, 2005 against the Angels. Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer

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