Leadoff hitter Ichiro Suzuki has done his part in the Mariners’ first three games, maintaining a .500 average after a 2-for-4 game Wednesday against the Twins.
No. 2 hitter Jeremy Reed continued to struggle, going 0-for-4 Wednesday to leave him hitless in 11 at-bats this season.
After just three games, nobody is concerned.
“It’s part of the game,” Reed said. “I’m just starting out slow.”
Manager Mike Hargrove, who said in spring training he might flip-flop Reed with veteran Randy Winn in the second spot, also wasn’t ready to jump to a different lineup.
“It’s three games,” Hargrove said. “He’s still a good hitter.”
Pokey watch: Shortstop Pokey Reese continued his therapy on a sore right shoulder Wednesday, one day after he and the Mariners learned from an MRI that there’s no tear.
“That’s the good news,” Hargrove said.
The bad news?
“Nobody seems real sure how long it’s going to take to recover,” Hargrove said. “We’ve got to be patient with it. He’ll continue to do treatment and strengthen the area and we’ll see where he’s at at the end of the DL period.”
Pineiro to pitch for Rainiers: Right-hander Joel Pineiro will pitch Sunday for the Tacoma Rainiers at Fresno in what the Mariners hope will be his final minor-league tuneup before he joins the team.
He is scheduled to make his debut with the Mariners next Saturday at Chicago. Pineiro, who missed the final two months last season because of a strained elbow, was slowed at spring training because of a sore shoulder.
“There’s no worry on our part t hat he’s going to injure himself any more than any other player,” Hargrove said. “We just need to get his pitch count up to where he can go six or seven innings, 90 or 100 pitches.”
Thorny inning for Thornton: Left-hander Matt Thornton experienced a rough debut to his season Tuesday when, against the left-handed portion of the Twins’ lineup, he gave up four hits and three runs. Among the hits was Jacque Jones’ two-run homer.
Hargrove said he wouldn’t change how he uses Thornton the next time there’s a lefty-lefty matchup.
“Everybody has a first outing, some are good and some aren’t so good,” Hargrove said. “The good this is he threw strikes and got ground balls. It just happened that they weren’t where we were standing.”
Of note: Hargrove said he considered starting Willie Bloomquist at shortstop Wednesday, but instead went with Wilson Valdez for the third straight game. “It will happen. It’s not that I’m afraid to play (Bloomquist) at all,” Hargrove said. … Bret Boone turned 36 Wednesday and marked the occasion with three hits. … The Mariners have released infielder Ricky Gutierrez, who was an invited player at spring training. … Outfielder Abraham Nunez, who the M’s claimed off waivers from the Royals last week before designating him for assignment, has cleared waivers and will play at Class AAA Tacoma. … Tre Simmons, accompanied by several teammates from the University of Washington men’s basketball team, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Wednesday’s game.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
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