Mariner notes

Next series

Opponent: Texas Rangers

When: 7:10 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday, 1:10 p.m. Sunday

Where: Safeco Field

TV: FSN, all four games

Radio: ESPN 710 AM, all four games

Pitchers: Today — Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez (8-3, 2.62 earned run average) vs. right-hander Tommy Hunter (1-1, 3.18). Friday — Right-hander Brandon Morrow (0-3, 5.05) vs. right-hander Scott Feldman (7-2, 3.91). Saturday — left-hander Jarrod Washburn (5-6, 3.08) vs. right-hander Kevin Millwood (8-6, 3.34). Sunday — Left-hander Erik Bedard (5-2, 2.58) vs. TBA.

Olson escapes the ultimate jam

With Orioles baserunners all around him and a 2-0 lead to protect, Garrett Olson stepped to the top of the mound in the seventh inning Wednesday and got these words of inspiration from manager Don Wakamatsu:

“Bases loaded, nobody out, just make your pitches right here,” Wakamatsu told him.

Like Olson didn’t realize that already?

“I think that’s just his way of communicating. Protocol,” Olson said. “But it is funny because in the bullpen you’re playing (the situation) in your mind as you’re warming up, knowing before you get out there what you’re dealing with so you can have a plan.”

Olson did as he was told by the skipper, making his pitches and getting out of the inning with spectacular efficiency. He struck out Nick Markakis and got Ty Wigginton to ground into a double play.

Olson, back in the bullpen after starting more than a month while Erik Bedard was hurt, couldn’t remember another time in his career when he’d been brought into such a situation.

“First time for everything, right?” he said. “It was an exciting rush. You can go out there and have an idea of what you want to do but it doesn’t always go your way. But if you execute your pitches and believe in yourself and your teammates behind you, good things can happen. Fortunately for us, it worked out that inning.”

Betancourt begins rehab stint at second base

Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt began his injury rehab assignment Wednesday night with Class AAA Tacoma, playing second base for the Rainiers.

The Mariners are considering a move of Betancourt to second and Jose Lopez from second to third as they look for the best combination to deal with the absence of injured Adrian Beltre for the next two months. Beltre had surgery 10 days ago to remove a bone spur from his shoulder.

Wakamatsu repeated Wednesday what he has said nearly a week since the idea was floated about moving Betancourt to second base.

“It gives us options,” he said.

One concern, Wakamatsu said, is what it means for others who would be switching positions. Lopez would move to third and Chris Woodward would shift from third to shortstop.

Woodward has played a considerable amount at shortstop but Lopez has rarely played third in his career. There’s a lot to learn in addition to the angle of the ball off the bat, and Wakamatsu likened it to Russell Branyan, who is playing first base for the first time in his career.

“At spring training with Russell, we had to have cue cards out there,” Wakamatsu said.

Of note

Wakamatsu said DH Mike Sweeney, on the disabled list with back spasms, had an X-ray Tuesday and probably would undergo an MRI to determine the reason for his recurring back problems. … Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez has a career-best 11-game hitting streak. … Ichiro Suzuki was the DH on Wednesday as Wakamatsu tried to give some rest to his right fielder, who said has shown signs of fatigue recently. … Closer David Aardsma allowed an earned run for the first time since May 31. … Promotion alert: The give-away for the first 20,000 fans at Friday’s game is a DVD containing the first 50 of the Mariners’ 100 TV commercials (another DVD with the other 50 will be given way Aug. 28). Also, Friday is Husky Night, with a portion of the proceeds from tickets sold through the UW Alumni Association (http://www.uwalum.com/mariners) going toward student scholarships. … Saturday, a pregame ceremony will honor the 10th birthday of Safeco Field, which opened July 15, 1999.

Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer