Next series
Opponent: Chicago White Sox
When: 7:10 p.m. today and Saturday, 1:10 p.m. Sunday
Where: Safeco Field
TV: Fox Sports Net, all three games
Radio: KOMO (1000 AM), all three games
Pitchers: Today — Seattle right-hander Carlos Silva (3-1, 4.20 earned run average) vs. right-hander Jose Contreras (2-3, 4.08). Saturday — Left-hander Jarrod Washburn (2-4, 4.81) vs. right-hander Javier Vazquez (3-3, 3.30). Sunday — Right-hander Miguel Batista (2-4, 5.66) vs. right-hander Gavin Floyd (3-1, 2.50).
It’s not good to be fine
As the Mariners’ offense searches for meaningful hits, there’s danger lurking around what so far has been a stellar pitching staff.
The pitchers know they must not succumb to the urge to do too much. They say it’s easy to fall into that trap, knowing one run could beat them because of the hitting problems.
“It’s definitely something you can get caught up with,” left-hander Jarrod Washburn said. “This is without question the best pitching staff I’ve ever been a part of. But when you take the hill and you know that the team’s struggling, you have a tendency at times to try to do too much, try to be too fine.”
Lest anyone think this Mariners staff, with the most promising starting five in franchise history, won’t be affected by the hitting problems, it has happened before.
The 2004 Mariners were afflicted with offensive problems, scoring 97 fewer runs than they did the previous year, and the team ERA was a run higher at 4.76 even though they had essentially the same starting five. Some on that pitching staff admitted after the season that they pitched tight, knowing that any run they allowed might be the difference between winning and losing.
This year’s team is on pace to score 653 runs, which would be the ninth fewest in franchise history, while the current team ERA of 4.32 would be the lowest since the 2003 staff finished at 3.76.
“You try not to let it creep into your mind and affect your thoughts on the mound and your game plan,” Washburn said. “But it does creep into your mind. You just try your best to block it out and pitch your normal game.
“We know we’ve got some talented offensive guys on the team and we know it’s just a matter of time when they’ll be scoring runs left and right. You struggle through it as a team, together. You can see the hurt in their faces. It hurts us all. It’s tough to watch because you feel so bad for everyone. This is a worse streak than we ever anticipated us going through. But maybe it’s coming at a good time; better now than in September.”
Of note: Designated hitter Jose Vidro was feeling better Thursday after a bout with back spasms. “He’s not even close to 100 percent, so we’re taking it day by day,” manager John McLaren said. … The Mariners asked waivers on right fielder Brad Wilkerson in order to grant him his unconditional release. They designated Wilkerson for assignment April 30 when Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien were called up. … Clement didn’t start Thursday against Rangers left-hander Kason Gabbard, even though he has hit left-handers well in the minor leagues. McLaren said he was giving a mental break to Clement, who had struck out in 11 of his 23 at-bats. “He’s trying to get his feet on the ground, they’re making some tough pitches on him and he’s pressing,” McLaren said. … One of McLaren’s beefs with the hitters in Wednesday’s 2-0 loss was their tendency to change their approach and overswing, even though they were in a close game. “It looks like a lot of our guys are trying to do too much,” he said. “I thought we had a lot of wild swings.” … Among the Rangers’ roster moves Thursday, they designated former Mariner Ben Broussard for assignment. Broussard, their opening-day first baseman, was batting .159.
Kirby Arnold, Herald Writer
Rangers 5, Mariners 0
TexasABRHBIBBSOAvg.
Kinsler 2b412200.291
RVazquez ss514101.309
Hamilton cf410013.284
Bradley dh300011.306
DaMurphy rf300102.265
Boggs lf302110.343
Catalanotto 1b300001.260
Shelton ph-1b101000.105
Laird c321001.268
Duran 3b400002.200
Totals335105311
SeattleABRHBIBBSOAvg.
ISuzuki cf401002.282
JoLopez dh401000.291
Ibanez lf400002.291
Beltre 3b400000.254
Sexson 1b000010.209
Cairo ph-1b201010.067
YBetancourt ss401000.268
Balentien rf200010.233
Johjima c300001.184
Bloomquist 2b200011.172
Totals2904046
Texas220001000—5101
Seattle000000000—040
E—RVazquez (2). LOB—Texas 7, Seattle 6. 2B—Kinsler (8), RVazquez (3), Laird (4), JoLopez (7). HR—Kinsler (3), off FHernandez. RBIs—Kinsler 2 (16), RVazquez (4), DaMurphy (22), Boggs (5). SF—DaMurphy. GIDP—Catalanotto, Laird, JoLopez, YBetancourt. Runners left in scoring position—Texas 4 (Hamilton 3, Catalanotto); Seattle 4 (JoLopez, Cairo, Balentien 2). Runners moved up—Beltre. DP—Texas 2 (Gabbard, RVazquez and Catalanotto), (Duran, Kinsler and Catalanotto); Seattle 2 (Bloomquist, YBetancourt and Sexson), (Beltre, Bloomquist and Cairo).
TexasIPHRERBBSONPERA
Gabbard32/320041631.85
FGerman W, 1-012/310003350.56
JWright200001173.66
Guardado2/30000083.18
FFrancisco110001173.86
SeattleIPHRERBBSONPERA
FHernandez L, 2-35644351123.42
Rowlnd-Smith331103344.30
MLowe110003193.75
Inherited runners-scored—FGerman 2-0, JWright 1-0. HBP—by FHernandez (Kinsler), by FHernandez (Laird). T—3:03. A—22,922 (47,447).
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