TODAY
Opponent: L.A. Angels
When: 7:10 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: FSN
Radio: ESPN 710 AM
Probable starting pitchers: Seattle right-hander Chris Jakubauskas (2-4, 7.13 earned run average) vs. right-hander Ervin Santana (0-0, 5.40).
MORROW SETTLES IN
The numbers didn’t show it, but Brandon Morrow said he felt more comfortable in his two innings Monday night than any outing since he came off the disabled list.
He gave up four hits, a walk and two runs in two innings, including a two-run home run to the Angels’ Kendry Morales, but the way things have gone for Morrow lately, he is beyond the point of worrying about numbers. He came to the ballpark Tuesday feeling good, both physically and mentally, after his 42-pitch outing.
“Aside from the home run and the first batter of the second inning when I was still trying to get loose a little bit, I felt like I was in control of the at-bats,” Morrow said. “Before, I was always behind.
“I felt a lot more like myself during the whole outing. Right off the bat, with the first batter, I was a lot more comfortable in letting it go.”
It was a big step for Morrow, who lost his closer role, at least temporarily until he gets his control back, after blowing two games last week at Texas. Besides better control of his fastball, the biggest difference Monday night was that he returned to his windup while pitching without runners on base.
“I’d like to stick with it,” he said. “Throwing out of the windup clears your mind. Once you get into your rhythm and start to rock back, you’re not thinking mechanics.”
And, in the one-thing-leads-to-another department, Morrow maintained that rhythm when he needed to pitch out of the stretch. That was one of the best parts of Monday’s outing, pitching coach Rick Adair said.
“The results didn’t show it, but overall his command was better and his mixture of pitches was better,” Adair said. “He held runners better. From holding runners better, his delivery was better. He made better pitches out of the stretch with the quicker move, which was great to see.”
BETANCOURT SITS AGAIN
One day after Yuniesky Betancourt made a lackadaisical error that led to a run, he was out of the lineup again Tuesday. Ronny Cedeno started at shortstop and manager Don Wakamatsu said it was as much because of the need to play Cedeno as it was Betancourt’s defense.
“It’s some of that (related to Betancourt) obviously, but I need and want to see Ronny play a little bit more,” Wakamatsu said. “Early in the season we had a little more of a rotation and I like that concept of giving guys breaks. It’s not that I am sending any messages, but it’s more about the level-of-play expectations.”
Wakamatsu benched Betancourt for two games last week because of his impatience at the plate. He walked three times in the first two games after returning to the lineup, but also made errors in three of the four games since.
SILVA HAS FRAYING IN SHOULDER
A magnetic resonance imaging exam of pitcher Carlos Silva’s right shoulder revealed an internal impingement and fraying of the rotator cuff.
What that means for Silva’s return to the starting rotation is uncertain. The report left the impression that it’s not a serious situation — every shoulder has some degree of fraying — but the Mariners will get a second opinion. The MRI, administered Monday, will be examined by Dr. David Altcheck in New York, and the Mariners expect an update later this week.
Silva, 1-3 with an 8.48 ERA, has been on the disabled list since May 7.
SHORT HOPS
Ryan Rowland-Smith threw 55 pitches in three innings of an extended spring training game in Peoria, Ariz. He will throw in the bullpen Thursday at Safeco Field, then join the Class AAA Tacoma Rainiers on a rehab assignment. Wakamatsu expected Rowland-Smith (triceps tendinitis) to rejoin the Mariners the first week in June. … Left-handed reliever Tyler Johnson, who missed all last season because of rotator cuff surgery and has been working out in Peoria, probably will join the Rainiers by the end of this week. … Right-hander Chad Cordero, trying to come back from labrum surgery, continues to throw bullpens in Peoria. “His velocity is still not where it was before,” Wakamatsu said. “There is no pain, but it will be a while with Chad.” … Minor league third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo had surgery Tuesday in Los Angeles to remove bone chips from his right elbow. … Mike McCready, guitarist with Pearl Jam, played the National Anthem before Tuesday night’s game. He also took a few hacks with the Mariners during batting practice and talked with bullpen coach John Wetteland, a guitarist himself.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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