MLB Team Report – Seattle Mariners – INSIDE PITCH
The good news of Franklin Gutierrez starting in center field for the first time this season couldn’t outweigh the continued troubles the Mariners have hitting in Safeco Field.
Seattle had only five hits Thursday in a 6-2 loss San Diego, with the Mariners getting swept at home by the team with the second-worst record in the major leagues.
In the series, the Mariners had some hits — 26 of them, to be exact — but went just 4-for-26 with men in scoring position.
Gutierrez didn’t follow the trend. He had one at-bat with a man at second base and singled to drive in the Mariners’ second run Thursday.
“On the road, we were attacking early, and that’s something we haven’t been doing here at home,” manager Eric Wedge. “They are not being defensive. I don’t think it’s so much the approach. I’d like us to do a better job of being aggressive. Get a pitch you can drive but not to swing at their pitch.”
“We have to get out of this funk at home. We know what we are capable of offensively; when we break out, we’ll hit the ground running and go from there. That will take a lot of pressure off the entire ballclub.”
Wedge had a pregame meeting before the game, but the Mariners had no answers against San Diego right-hander Edison Volquez.
For the year, the Mariners are hitting .198 at home and .257 on the road.
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MLB Team Report – Seattle Mariners – NOTES, QUOTES
–RHP Kevin Millwood threw on the side Thursday and came out of it feeling strong. That being the case, manager Eric Wedge said Millwood is good to go for Saturday’s start against the Giants. Millwood came out of his June 8 start due to a groin injury.
–CF Franklin Gutierrez made his first start in the big leagues this season, batting eighth and playing in center with Michael Saunders, who had been the regular center fielder, playing in left. Gutierrez had an RBI single and finished 1-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
–C Jesus Montero was behind the plate Thursday for the second consecutive night, which is something manager Eric Wedge hasn’t asked from him since C Miguel Olivo came off the disabled list. Montero is hitting .340 (33-for-97) when he catches and just .200 when he is the DH. Even so, Wedge said that the 22-year-old is still learning to play behind the plate and isn’t ready to play there on a regular basis.
–SS Brendan Ryan sat out for the second night running with SS Munenori Kawasaki getting the start instead. Ryan is playing great defense, manager Eric Wedge said, “but sometimes it’s good to get a couple of days off in a row” to get back into a hitting groove.
–RHP Erasmo Ramirez made his first career major league start Thursday, the day after being recalled from Class AAA Tacoma. After starting the night with four consecutive shutout innings, he gave up three runs in the fifth and was knocked out in a three-run sixth. At 22 years and 44 days, he is the youngest Mariner to start a game since Ryan Feierabend started in 2006 at 21 years, 33 days.
BY THE NUMBERS: 11 1/3 — Innings pitched without allowing a hit for LHP Charlie Furbush before the Padres’ John Baker singled off him in the sixth inning Thursday.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We’ve got to get out of this funk here at home.” — Manager Eric Wedge, whose Mariners were swept by the Padres in a three-game series.
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MLB Team Report – Seattle Mariners – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Kevin Millwood (groin strain) left his June 8 start. An MRI indicated no real damage. He threw on the side June 14, and he is scheduled to start June 16.
–RHP Stephen Pryor (strained left groin) went on the 15-day disabled list June 13.
–LF Mike Carp (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 11.
–LHP George Sherrill (strained left elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 1. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in early May.
ROTATION:
RHP Felix Hernandez
LHP Jason Vargas
RHP Kevin Millwood
RHP Hector Noesi
RHP Erasmo Ramirez
BULLPEN:
RHP Tom Wilhelmsen
RHP Brandon League
LHP Charlie Furbush
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma
LHP Lucas Luetge
RHP Shawn Kelley
RHP Steve Delabar
CATCHERS:
Miguel Olivo
Jesus Montero
John Jaso
INFIELDERS:
1B Justin Smoak
2B Dustin Ackley
SS Brendan Ryan
3B Kyle Seager
INF Munenori Kawasaki
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Michael Saunders
CF Franklin Gutierrez
RF Ichiro Suzuki
OF Casper Wells
OF/INF Chone Figgins
