Opponent: Kansas City Royals
When: 6:05 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: KSTW (Ch.11)
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Jeff Weaver (0-3, 13.91 earned run average) vs. right-hander Gil Meche (1-1, 2.55).
Friends and foes
Gil Meche admits he has been looking forward to today – his return to the mound at Safeco Field – since long before he signed with the Kansas City Royals last winter.
“I thought about it as soon as I left here last year,” he said Friday, his first day back in Seattle as a member of the Royals. “I walked around the city, went to the market and watched them throw fish. I knew I would enjoy coming back. I told the guys how great the city is and that it’s the best ballpark in the league.”
Meche signed a five-year, $55 million contract with the Royals in the offseason after spending his entire career with the Mariners, who drafted him in the first round in 1996.
He is 1-1 with a 2.55 earned run average in five starts and so far has been everything Mariners fans had hoped he would become in Seattle. He has cut down on his walks, thrown strikes and pitched deep into games. He’s averaging more than seven innings per start.
“It’s a matter of getting early outs,” he said. “I threw 110 pitches my last couple starts, but I went eight and seven innings in those games. I’m not walking guys. Like I’ve always said, if I could cut my walks out, everything else would take care of themselves.”
Today’s game might be different. The Mariners know Meche and he knows them, and there’s the challenge of trying to treat it as just another start.
“I’m going to take it like that,” he said. “Once I get out there, I’ll be fine.”
He also isn’t worried about how the fans at Safeco Field will react to him. Reminded that they were vicious with Alex Rodriguez, who spurned a big offer from the Mariners to take a bigger one from the Rangers, Meche had a quick response.
“I didn’t turn down anything,” he said.
Meche said there was never serious discussion with the Mariners in the offseason, and the Royals made his decision easy.
“It has worked out,” he said. “Leaving here the last day of the season, I knew a change was going to be good for me. So far, it has been. I’m throwing seven innings every start and doing the things I need to do consistently.
“I still pull for those guys over there. Just not this weekend.”
Felix throws: Injured starter Felix Hernandez threw 35 pitches off the bullpen mound Friday afternoon for the first time since he suffered a strained muscle near his right elbow April 18.
“Felix felt good. He remains on schedule,” said Dr. Ed Khalfayan, the Mariners’ medical director.
Hargrove said Hernandez probably will pitch Saturday’s game against the Yankees in New York. He was scheduled for Friday, but the rainout in Texas early this week pushes the rotation back a day. Hargrove said Hernandez would throw two more bullpen sessions before his start.
He suffered the injury in the first inning of his start against the Twins and was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday, retroactive to April 19.
Gentle reminder: Wednesday’s game, originally scheduled for the evening, will start at 12:35 p.m. in order for the Mariners to fly to Boston for their makeup game there Thursday night.
Of note: Former Mariners second baseman Harold Reynolds threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday’s game. Former catcher Dan Wilson will throw out the first pitch Sunday. … Ballot boxes appeared Friday at Safeco Field for the All-Star Game. Balloting continues through June 22 at the ballpark or online at mlb.com.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
