Five times the fun

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, August 26, 2004

The Mariners’ five-game series against the Royals does little to change their approach against the Royals. The doubleheader scheduled for Saturday does.

“It poses the challenge of how you use your bullpen,” manager Bob Melvin said.

The doubleheader could put added stress on the relief pitching, especially with rookie Clint Nageotte scheduled to start the second game. Melvin had to keep that in mind in the first two games of the series Thursday and today.

Nageotte, for instance, was held back for only late-inning, short duty Thursday night and won’t be available to pitch today. Melvin also expected to use other relievers for longer duty than usual and not in specialty roles.

“When they go out there, it’s not going to be for one hitter,” he said. “We have to have an eye on the doubleheader Saturday. But once we get through Sunday and have the off day (Monday), well have a little time to rest.”

Why Nageotte? The Mariners could have turned to left-hander Matt Thornton to start the second game Saturday, or even dipped into their Class AAA Tacoma roster for lefty Travis Blackley or right-hander Cha Seung Baek.

Nageotte was the best option, Melvin said.

Pulling Thornton out of his relief role would leave the bullpen with only one left-hander, George Sherrill. Also, Nageotte has more starting experience, having started four games since he came up to the Mariners. Thornton has started just one.

Inning in the elements: Thursday’s game started in 70-degree weather with broken clouds overhead, but as the Mariners batted in the second inning, many in the crowd were scrambling for cover from a sudden rain shower.

The Safeco Field roof, however, didn’t budge until the inning had ended. In the time it took to extend the roof, the rain stopped and the clouds had begun to part again.

Tulalip ceremony: As part of the Mariners’ Native American Night promotion, members of the Tulalip Tribes performed their traditional salmon ceremony in center field before Thursday’s game.

Tulalip member Carissa Ramsey sang the National Anthem, nine Tulalip military veterans comprised the color guard and tribal chairman Stan Jones Sr. threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Thursday night’s festivities followed an appearance Wednesday by Mariners pitchers Bobby Madritsch and George Sherrill at the Tulalip Boys &Girls Club. Madritsch is one of eight Native Americans to play in the major leagues, and he’s the first since Rudy York in 1948.