Mariners Update

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, June 2, 2001

Opponent: Tampa Bay Devil Rays

When: 1:35 p.m.

Where: Safeco Field

TV: Fox Sports Net

Radio: KIRO (710 AM)

Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Freddy Garcia (5-0, 3.97 earned run average) vs. right-hander Tanyon Sturtze (2-4, 5.55).

That magic feeling: Nobody needs to remind the Mariners how special this season already is. Getting them to talk about it, however, is almost impossible.

“I come to the park, prepare and go out and play,” catcher Dan Wilson said. “That’s what a lot of the guys in here do.”

Nobody in the clubhouse seems awe-struck by a record – 41-12 entering Saturday’s game – that’s one of the 10 best starts in major league history. No team since the 1955 Dodgers has won as many times through 53 games.

Wilson celebrates his place in history with an extra round of batting practice.

“It’s still so early in the season that there’s no time to sit back and think about things like that,” Wilson said. “Just keep working and preparing. I could be wrong, but I would think the ‘55 Dodgers felt the same way.”

Making contact: Few Mariners have smacked the ball like Wilson in the past week.

His two hits Friday pulled his batting average to .259 and he’s had two or more hits in four of his last five games.

Even more impressive is the way Wilson is driving the ball. He has five extra-base hits in his last 12 at-bats (four doubles and a home run). He says he feels as comfortable as he looks at the plate.

“I’m getting my body in a better position to hit each time,” he said. “When your body is in a good position, you’ll hit the ball harder more consistently.”

McLemore sits: Mark McLemore reported for work Saturday without any sign of the groin injury that forced him out of Friday night’s game – no limp, no gimp, no grimace of pain.

Asked how he felt, McLemore said “fine” before leaving for the training room.

McLemore suffered a stretched groin muscle in the fifth inning Friday night while lunging for a fly in left-center field. He made a spectacular shoestring catch, although umpire Scott Higgins mistakenly ruled that he trapped the ball.

McLemore wasn’t in the lineup Saturday, and likely won’t play today when the Mariners finish their series against the Devil Rays.

Coming attractions: Here are the probable pitching matchups for this week’s series against the Rangers: Monday – John Halama vs. Pat Mahomes. Tuesday – Aaron Sele vs. Doug Davis. Wednesday – Jamie Moyer vs. Ryan Glynn.

Kirby Arnold