SEATTLE — Veteran Seattle Mariners right-hander Chris Young, who endured years of shoulder miseries, placed no importance Wednesday in reaching double figures in victories for the first time in eight years.
Young improved to 10-6 when the bullpen worked four scoreless innings in closing out a 7-3 victory over Atlanta at Safeco Field.
“Maybe early in my career,” he said, “that is something I’d get excited about. But at this point … wins are so far beyond a pitcher’s control.
“To evaluate your season based on wins or losses … you can’t caught up in wins and losses as a starting pitcher. One day, the media will stop evaluating us on that.”
That latter line, characteristically, was delivered gently with a smile.
The Mariners are quick to point to Young’s importance.
“He’s been a Godsend to this rotation,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “Not only has he given us innings. He’s given us a nice veteran presence.”
The Mariners didn’t acquire Young until March 27 when they signed him as a free agent in a scramble to replace veteran lefty Randy Wolf in an injury-depleted rotation.
Wolf’s refusal to sign an advance-consent clause regarding his contract prompted the Mariners to release him. Young agreed to the clause as a opportunity to test his recovery from his latest surgery.
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