Opponent: Kansas City Royals.
When: 5:10 p.m. today, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Where: Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.
TV: FSN (cable) all three games.
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM) all three games.
Pitchers: Today – Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez (4-4, 4.33 earned run average) vs. right-hander Gil Meche (5-6, 3.28). Tuesday – Seattle left-hander Ryan Feierabend (1-2, 6.46) vs. left-hander Jorge De La Rosa (5-9, 5.38). Wednesday – Seattle left-hander Jarrod Washburn (7-6, 4.03) vs. right-hander Brian Bannister (7-5, 3.81).
Star search
Mariners closer J.J. Putz made the All-Star game for the first time and center fielder Ichiro Suzuki was selected for the seventh straight season.
Vote totals were announced Sunday, Putz making it in balloting of players and Suzuki being voted as a starting outfielder by fans.
“I’m looking forward to the entire thing,” said Putz, who is 23-for-23 in save opportunities and has a 0.95 earned run average. “Sitting on the field for the home-run derby is gong to be pretty cool. Just being around the best of the best is going to be cool. I’m going to soak it all in.”
Putz received 133 player votes, third among AL relievers. Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels received 204 and Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox 197.
Suzuki finished third among AL outfielders in fan balloting, receiving 2,341,409 votes. He has made the team in each of his six previous seasons in the major leagues.
“It will never be something that’s old hat,” Suzuki said. “It’s very exciting for me. When I was in Japan I played in seven consecutive All-Star games. It has been a goal of mine to play in seven consecutive All-Star games here. To be able to accomplish that is something that makes me happy.”
Suzuki, who went 1-for-5 on Sunday, is second in the AL with a .365 batting average.
Ichi-mum: Asked how the managerial change will affect his feeling toward playing with the Mariners, Suzuki bristled.
“Please don’t ask questions related to that right now,” he said.
Suzuki, who can be a free agent after this season, made it clear during spring training that he would not talk about his future. He said in February that the possibility of free agency intrigued him because he has never been able to experience the process.
He did acknowledge a strained relationship with Hargrove two years ago when Hargrove took over as the Mariners’ manager.
“When he first joined the club, there were some complications between us,” Suzuki said. “But since then I’ve honestly expressed my feelings toward him. He listened to them honorably and very gentleman-like. That’s a strong memory that I will have of him.”
There’s also the time Suzuki urged Hargrove to ditch the windbreaker he would wear during games and put on a uniform top.
“I asked him to wear it in the dugout, and the next day he wore it and I hit a home run to lead off the game,” Suzuki said.
Asked if he would miss having Hargrove manage the team, Suzuki said he couldn’t answer.
“You will have to ask me after we have played a few games without him,” he said. “He will be missed, but I’m not sure in what fashion. What I can definitely say is that when you battle with somebody for an extended period of time, when that person leaves, your emotions are moved.”
Of note: Relief pitcher Chris Reitsma allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning Sunday in a rehab outing with Class AAA Tacoma. He threw 19 pitches. Reitsma will pitch again for the Rainiers on Tuesday, as will reliever Mark Lowe. … Raul Ibanez returned to the lineup at DH on Sunday after missing six games because of a strained right hamstring. … Second baseman Jose Lopez missed his second straight game because of a bad back.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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