A little news this morning in Mariners camp. Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez has left the team for a couple of days as he and his wife flew to Florida to be with his father-in-law, Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar.
Salazar, father of Vivian Gutierrez, was in the dugout during the Braves’ spring training game Wednesday when he was struck in the head by a line drive.
It’s been a difficult spring already for Gutierrez, who spent a day in Seattle early in camp to undergo tests on his stomach, which has given him problems since last season. The Mariners haven’t announced anything concerning the results of those tests.
Gutierrez, who played center field Wednesday against the Dodgers, is batting .308 in 18 exhibition at-bats. Ryan Langerhans is starting in center field today against the Angels.
A few morning notes:
• Felix Hernandez will make his next start in a minor league intrasquad game Saturday. That will allow him to avoid pitching to the Oakland A’s, who he’ll face as the opening-night starter April 1 at Oakland. Right-hander Blake Beavan will start Saturday against the A’s.
• Mariners reliever Shawn Kelley continues to throw without problem in his surgically repaired right elbow. He said he’s throwing with about 60 percent effort – easy enough not to hurt himself but hard enough to know he’s much better than he was before the surgery Sept. 1.
• Ichiro Suzuki and Chone Figgins are back at the top of the Mariners’ batting order today in their first taste of the AL West rival Angles, who aren’t exactly bringing over a who’s-who of their lineup. Also, Jack Wilson plays another game at second base with Brendan Ryan at shortstop for the Mariners as manager Eric Wedge continues to look at middle-infield combinations.
Here are today’s lineups
ANGELS
Reggie Willits, right field
Peter Bourjos, center field
Mike Trout, DH
Brandon Wood, third base
Chris Pettit, left field
Hang Conger, catcher
Gabe Jacobs, first base
Andrew Romine, shortstop
Gil Velazquez, second base
Starting pitcher: Right-hander Matt Palmer
MARINERS
Ichiro Suzuki, DH
Chone Figgins, third base
Milton Bradley, left field
Justin Smoak, first base
Ryan Langerhans, center field
Gabe Gross, right field
Jack Wilson, second base
Brendan Ryan, shortstop
Adam Moore, catcher
Starting pitcher: Left-hander Eric Bedard
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