Opponent: Baltimore Orioles
When: 7:05 p.m.
Where: Safeco Field
TV: FX (cable)
Radio: KIRO (710 AM)
Pitchers: Seattle right-hander Joel Pineiro (4-1, 2.08 earned run average) vs. right-hander Rick Bauer (0-1, 1.42)
Loved that dome: Cal Ripken Jr. began his final weekend in Seattle as a player by reflecting on the place that meant the most to him here: the Kingdome.
“That was a good-hitting place for sure,” said the Baltimore Orioles’ retiring star. “You got rewarded on hitting the ball on the ground. Every ball that hit the gap and every ball you hit down the line was extra bases, and the climate was always the same.
“I hit three home runs in a game there once. The only time I’ve done it was in the Kingdome.”
Ripken said he even liked the view from the Kingdome, although he had to climb on top to get it.
“I climbed to the top to get a look at the city,” he said. “I remember standing up there and seeing the city from that perspective.”
On Friday, Safeco Field was a pretty accommodating place, too.
The bases contained a small No. 8 – Ripken’s uniform number – on their sides, and the bag at third and the Orioles’ on-deck circle each was topped by a bigger orange “8.”
The fans gave him a polite cheer before the game as he jogged in the outfield, then a standing ovation before his first at-bat.
“This is a fantastic ballpark here,” he said. “I’m kind of envious, jealous, that I didn’t get a chance to play in this more.”
Escape from Tacoma: Ramon Vazquez left his Tacoma Rainiers teammates in the middle of their Pacific Coast League playoff series against Sacramento, but he wasn’t at all hesitant about it when the Mariners called him to the big leagues on Friday.
With shortstop Carlos Guillen out a few days with an ankle injury, the Mariners decided they needed a backup even though it robbed the Class AAA Rainiers of a starter.
“It’s not that tough (to leave),” Vazquez said. “Coming up here is probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Manager Lou Piniella is eager to take a look at Vazquez, but probably not until after the Mariners clinch the division title.
“He’ll play,” Piniella said, “in due time.”
That time came in the eighth inning Friday, when Vazquez pinch-hit for Stan Javier. He pulled a single down the right-field line in his first major league at-bat.
Injury update: Guillen took batting practice Friday as he continued to make impressive progress from his sprained left ankle. He was hurt on Tuesday and the team medical staff initially feared he could miss up to 10 days.
“I think he’ll be ready much quicker than that,” Piniella said.
Guillen batted left-handed only on Friday. He’ll take batting practice again today, field ground balls and go through agility drills.
There’s a good chance Guillen will return before injured outfielder Al Martin does. Martin strained his left elbow when he crashed into the outfield wall on Wednesday.
“Martin is out for a little while. His elbow is pretty sore,” trainer Rick Griffin said. “Dr. (Larry) Pedegana looked at him and said he’ll be out at least five days.”
Award nominee: Mariners catcher Dan Wilson, known for his pleasant demeanor and benevolent ways, is up for an award that recognizes such qualities.
Wilson was named the Mariners’ nominee for the annual Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game, sportsmanship, community involvement and contributions to his team.
The nomination also will bring a $2,500 donation from the award sponsor, John Hancock, in Wilson’s name to AGCI, an international adoption and relief agency that Wilson and his wife, Annie, have supported. The Wilsons adopted their daughter, Sofia, from Bulgaria in 1996 through AGCI.
Kirby Arnold
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