M’s expand roster with Beltre, Carp, Vargas; Ichiro back in lineup
Published 4:07 pm Wednesday, September 2, 2009
It’s Roster Expansion Day, and the Mariners have added three — third baseman Adrian Beltre from the disabled list (hopefully with a protective cup), first baseman Mike Carp from Class AAA Tacoma (hopefully with some left-handed pop) and left-handed pitcher Jason Vargas from Tacoma (hopefully with some middle innings to give tonight if the Angels bash Doug Fister the way they did Luke French last night).
Carp replaces Russell Branyan, who is on the DL because of a herniated disc. Vargas is bullpen insurance after French lasted five innings and long/middle man Chris Jakubauskas was needed for two innings in last night’s 10-0 loss. And Beltre hopefully brings some pop with his bat to an offense that has been shut out and limited to four hits its past 18 innings.
Of course, the big question is whether Beltre will wear protection in the field. He wasn’t a couple of weeks ago when a ground ball hit him in the groin, severely bruising a testicle. Beltre said yesterday that he would decide before today’s game if he would wear a cup.
Ichiro Suzuki is back in the first time in a week after dealing with a tight left calf. Ken Griffey Jr. isn’t, however. Griffey has had a sore left knee for several days. Here’s tonight’s lineup:
Ichiro Suzuki, right field
Franklin Gutierrez, center field
Jose Lopez, second base
Mike Sweeney, DH
Adrian Beltre, third base
Mike Carp, first base
Kenji Johjima, catcher
Jack Wilson, shortstop
Michael Saunders, left field
