Opponent: Kansas City Royals
When: 7:05 p.m., today
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle
TV: Fox Sports Net (cable)
Radio:KIRO (710 AM)
Probable starting pitchers: Seattle righthander Aaron Sele (12-1, 3.11 ERA) vs. right-hander Paul Byrd (1-4, 4.72).
Martinez getting closer: Mariners manager Lou Piniella said designated hitter Edgar Martinez probably will be activated off the disabled list by Tuesday, when the team starts its seven-game road trip in Detroit.
“Everything looks positive,” Piniella said. “Everything looks to be on schedule. Everybody seems to be optimistic, including Edgar.”
Martinez, 38, strained a left quadiceps muscle July 15 against Arizona. He was hitting .299, with 14 home runs, 70 RBI and 27 doubles. He is second in American League in on-base percentage (.431).
Widger isn’t close at all: Seattle reserve catcher Chris Widger said he will have surgery Friday to repair a torn rotator cuff and will require six to eight months to recover.
Widger, 30, was on rehabilitation assignment from surgery in December 2000 to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. Part of his rehab included a stint with the Everett AquaSox. M’s medical director Dr. Larry Pedegana will perform the operation.
“I’m just looking to getting back full strength by spring,” Widger said.
Gipson talks about the play: Reserve outfielder Charles Gipson said he was fairly salivating when he saw Twins runner Chad Allen try to score on him in the eighth inning Monday with the M’s ahead 3-2.
“I thought I had a play on him,” Gipson said. “I knew they’d send him and I knew I needed to hit Dan (Wilson, the catcher) on the fly. It’s something you dream about doing as an outfielder. When you get an opportunity, you want to be ready.”
Gipson’s peg was perfect, preserving Seattle’s lead.
Short hops: The Mariners are the only team in the majors with four starters with nine or more victories. Aaron Sele, Freddy Garcia, Jamie Moyer and Paul Abbott were a combined 41-10 with a 3.73 ERA going into Tuesday night … Speaking of pitching, Seattle’s staff had a 1.85 ERA in the previous 15 games going into Tuesday night. That’s since the Mariners allowed a season-high 14 runs against Texas July 5. In that span, starters have gone an average of 6 2/3innings, with a 2.85 ERA. The bullpen allowed just two earned runs in 41 innings for a 0.44 ERA … What’s dominance? Seattle went into Tuesday night’s game outscoring its opponents, 581-411, a 170-run differential that leads the majors. Second is the Cleveland Indians, at an 86-run gap. From the seventh inning on, the Mariners outscored their foes by a major-league-leading 83 runs, 188-105.
During batting practice Tuesday, Ichiro Suzuki trotted after a fly ball in right field, reached his glove behind his back, and, while still facing the infield, made the catch. Not bad for a designated hitter, as Suzuki was Tuesday night.
John Sleeper
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