Opponent: Toronto Blue Jays
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: Fox Sports Net (cable)
Radio: KIRO (710 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer (3-1, 4.60 earned run average) vs. right-hander Brandon Lyon (1-3, 6.11).
Justin Kaye has pitched at Safeco Field before, in an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals a year ago, but that experience was nothing compared with Kaye’s return to the ballpark Wednesday.
It was the moment of his dreams, his first day as a major leaguer after the Mariners called him up from Class AAA Tacoma. Kaye replaced injured pitcher Paul Abbott, who went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.
Asked to describe his emotions, the 25-year-old Kaye couldn’t.
“It’s something you can’t put into words,” he said. “The happiness you feel almost brings you to tears. It’s unreal to be here.”
Kaye had been with the Rainiers in Sacramento on Tuesday when he got the call.
How did he sleep?
“I didn’t,” he said.
How many phone calls did he make with the happy news?
“Three. One to my fiance, one to my mom and one to my agent. They got to take care of the rest of the calls.”
Halama to start; Pineiro to stay: Manager Lou Piniella made two things clear about his pitching staff.
Left-hander John Halama will start Saturday night’s game against the Red Sox and right-hander Joel Pineiro won’t go back to the bullpen despite injuries to Jeff Nelson and Paul Abbott.
Pineiro made the rotation out of spring training but, with the team needing a power arm in relief, Piniella moved him there the first three weeks of the season.
Why not Cloude? As they continued to reach into the minor leagues for pitching, the Mariners kept reaching for rookies and not for one with major league experience who has put up impressive numbers this season.
Right-hander Ken Cloude is 5-1 with a 1.26 ERA this season for Class AAA Tacoma, which is where he stayed as the Mariners grabbed Julio Mateo, Justin Kaye and Rafael Soriano for the bullpen this week.
Why not Cloude?
“The opening we’re trying to fill is in long relief, and Kenny is throwing very well as a starter,” pitching coach Bryan Price said.
The Mariners are being careful to keep Cloude pitching on an every-fifth-day schedule in his return after missing two years because of injuries.
Ichiro is OK: When a small spot of blood appeared on the left knee of Ichiro Suzuki’s uniform Sunday in New York, it made big headlines in Japan.
M’s trainer Rick Griffin assured everyone that Suzuki hadn’t re-opened the cut that required four stitches 12 days ago after he banged his knee on a railing at Safeco Field.
“He had three cuts on his knee, two from when he hit the fence and one that was a strawberry from sliding,” Griffin said. “The blood was from the strawberry. The stitched cut was not bleeding.”
Suzuki had the stitches removed on Tuesday.
Kirby Arnold
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
