On another crisp spring day at Safeco Field, the Mariners’ cockles definitely are a lot warmer after that big comeback victory Monday night over the Blue Jays. It’s not like the guys are still celebrating in the clubhouse (although rookie reliever Josh Lueke did get an icy beer shower last night aft
er getting his first big-league victory).
Instead, it’s back to business for the Mariners. The good (or bad) thing about baseball is that there’s little time to dwell on the previous game.
“You should feel good about that win, especially with the tough stretch we’ve been through,” manager Eric Wedge said. “You’re better for it, a little bit more confident, and now you come out here today and let that work for you. Even keel is always something we want to be. Be strong on the tough days and humble on the good ones. But it’s good to feel good every now and then.”
Tonight, the Mariners go for two straight against the Blue Jays with a little different lineup. Luis Rodriguez, the ninth-inning hero last night, will start at third base because Chone Figgins has a bad bruise at the base of his left thumb after he was hit by a line drive in the second inning last night. Wedge was hoping Figgins would be available to pinch-hit tonight, although it depends on how he responds to treatment this afternoon.
The other interesting lineup wrinkle is that catcher Miguel Olivo is batting fourth (he has batted sixth in all seven starts this season). Why not move Justin Smoak up to fourth, especially after a solid game last night gave him a .308 average on the homestand? Wedge didn’t address that, although Smoak has batted fifth in all 10 games so far and I know the Mariners aren’t too keen on bouncing him around the batting order.
Also, DH Jack Cust isn’t in the lineup tonight. No surprise there against Jays left-hander Ricky Romero, especially with Cust batting .171 (although four of his six hits are off lefties). Cust is 0-for-5 off Romero.
Here are tonight’s lineups:
BLUE JAYS
Yunel Escobar, shortstop
Corey Patterson, center field
Jose Bautista, right field
Adam Lind, first base
Aaron Hill, second base
J.P. Arencibia, catcher
Travis Snider, left fielder
Edwin Encarnacion, DH
Jayson Nix, third base
Starting pitcher: Left-hander Ricky Romero (1-0, 1.32 ERA)
MARINERS
Ichiro Suzuki, right field
Jack Wilson, second base
Milton Bradley, DH
Miguel Olivo, catcher
Justin Smoak, first base
Luis Rodriguez, third base
Michael Saunders, left field
Brendan Ryan, shortstop
Ryan Langerhans, center field
Starting pitcher: Right-hander Michael Pineda (0-1, 4.50)
And now, a few notes before we kneel and pray for a much quicker game than last night’s 3-hour 46-minute thriller. Great game to cover, but a real bear with a 10:45 p.m. deadline:
• Catcher Adam Moore had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee this morning, and the news wasn’t good.
Moore had said over the weekend that if he woke up wearing a brace it would mean a more involved surgery and at least four months of recovery (and probably out for the season). If he woke up with a brace, it would be a much shorter recovery.
He woke up with the brace.
• Closer David Aardsma, nearing the end of his comeback from January hip surgery, threw a 28-pitch simulated game this afternoon against M’s hitters Franklin Gutierrez, Ryan Langerhans and Chris Gimenez. Gutierrez’s fly to medium right field and Gimenez’ soft grounder to shortstop were the only balls put into play.
“He looked good, he felt good,” Wedge said. The ball came out of his hand good, he had a lot of life, the arm looked good, everything was good.”
Wedge said Aardsma would pitch another simulate game Friday in Kansas City, working two 15-pitch innings, and probably go out on a minor-league rehab assignment if he gets through it without problem.
Wedge also said Aardsma would return to the closer role as soon as he’s ready.
“That’s what he is,” Wedge said. “As long as he’s comfortable with it, we are.”
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