Yes, Carlos Silva is back, making his first start since Aug. 15, when he landed on the disabled list with elbow tightness.
Silva hasn't won a game since June 28, and has only that one win since April 17, when he was 3-0.
For his sanity as much as anything, Silva needs to pitch well tonight. As for the Mariners, they've got yet another chance to win their fourth consecutive game - which would be a new season high.
Be still your hearts.

Oops ...
Lefty Matt Harrison was ahead in the count, 0-2, when he threw a fat pitch to Adrian Beltre, who launched it.
That's home run No. 24 and Beltre's third in two days. It puts Silva ahead.
A one-run lead usually lasts an inning.
Mariners 1, Rangers 0. ...

As We Were Saying ...
That one-run lead lasted half an inning.
With two outs, Chris Davis just punched an RBI single to center.
The Rangers and Mariners are showing why they're out of contention. Texas made a base-running blunder - getting thrown out at third base on a grounder to short - and Seattle's Wladimir Balentien air-mailed a throw from center field, allowing a runner to move into scoring position.
Mariners 1, Rangers 1 ...

Catch The Ball, Please ...
Silva got into a world of trouble in the third inning, allowing two singles and a walk to load the bases with two out.
The reality is, Silva's sinke4r is working - the right side of his infield isn't. One ground ball got by second baseman Jose Lopez, the other by first baseman Miguel Cairo.
Both plays should have been made, each became a single. When the Mariners begin putting together their plan for 2009, they're going to have to remedy that problem.
Silva got out of the jam, but his defense cost him a lot of pitches that inning.
Mariners 1, Rangers 1 ...

Mr. Beltre, We Presume ...
Yuniesky Betancourt's 30th double started a rally, with Beltre singling him home - RBI No. 71.
Wladimir Balentien then followed an infield sdingle in his first at-bat with a double to the wall in center that scored Beltre.
Let's see how long a two-run lead lasts.
Mariners 3, Rangers 1 ...

That's A New One ...
Weird play of the night - Miguel Cairo hits a ball off the pitcher, and the catcher leaves the game.
Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia threw wildly past first base for an error, sending Cairo to second base, and Saltalamacchia had to leave the game in pain. Looked like a back spasm, but no word yet.
Ichiro singled Cairo to third, and Betancourt's fly ball got him home.
It was a handy run - Silva gave up Josh Hamilton's 31st home run leading off the fifth.
Mariners 4, Rangers 2 ...

That Didn't Go Well ...
The Buffalo is out of this one, and he's left trailing.
With two on and two out, he couldn't finish the fifth inning, allowing an RBI single to Chris Davis and then a long three-run home run to backup catcher Taylor Teagarden.
The final line of Silva:
4 2/3 innings, 10 hits, six runs, four walks and two strikeouts on 98 pitches.
Rangers 6, Mariners 4 ...

Update On Saltamacchio ...
Pain in his right elbow sent him to the training room, and he'll have an MRI exam Tuesday morning.
Not what you want to hear about anyone, any time.

Creeping Back ...
Mariners are trying to sneak back into this one - and in this ball park, you're never out of it.
Singles by Beltre, Lopez and catcher Jamie Burke pushed home a run and chased starter Harrison.
Rangers 6, Mariners 5 ...

Hey, It IS Texas ...
Runs come easy in Texas, and the Mariners have a lead in the seventh.
Another Betancourt double (No. 31). Another Raul Ibanez RBI (No. 95). Another hit for Beltre (No. 4 tonight).
The Rangers intentionally walked Lopez to get to Balentien's spot, and the Mariners counter with pinch-hitter Jeremy Reed, who singled home two runs. Kenji Johjima singled to re-load the bases.
Burke flied out, scoring Lopez.
Now Silva is off the hook and Sean Green is the pitcher of record. It may take 12 runs to win tonight. The two teams already have a combined 27 hits.
Mariners 9, Rangers 6 ...

Pedal That Thing ...
Adrian Beltre's RBI triple made him the fourth player in franchise history to hit for the cyle - a single, double, triple and home run in the same game.
Beltre has five hits tonight, matching his career high.
Betancourt homered in the same inning, and Jeremy Reed singled home Beltre.
That's 19 hits for Seattle, only 12 for Texas.
And 12 may not be enough.
Mariners 12, Rangers 6 ...

Speaking Of Cycles ...
Which Mariners did Beltre join by hitting for the cycle?
Jay Buhner, Alex Rodriguez and John Olerud.d
Beltre also becomes the first Mariner ever with five hits and five runs in the same game. ...

Reliever Justin Thomas and infielder Luis Valbuena will join the Seattle Mariners in Texas today – but five more Tacoma Rainiers will be coming to the majors on Tuesday.

Catcher Rob Johnson and third baseman Matt Tuiasosopo will join pitchers Brandon Morrow, Mark Lowe and Jared Wells as the Mariners expand their September and take a longer look at what their farm system has produced.

For Thomas, Valbuena and Tuiasosopo this will be their first big-league opportunity.

“Young players always bring a lot of energy when they come up, whether they’re playing regularly or just getting the chance to get their feet wet,” manager Jim Riggleman said.

Morrow will start one game of the Yankees series this weekend at Safeco Field – his first big-league start after spending most of the last two seasons in the Seattle bullpen.

Lowe and Thomas will be used in relief.

Johnson will catch pitchers in the bullpen when not starting, and though he’ll be the fourth catcher on the roster, the Mariners want to try and get him in a few games as the starter.

Tuiasosopo isn’t likely to budge Adrian Beltre, but having him on the team gives Seattle a legitimate third baseman should Riggleman want to use Beltre as the designated hitter.

Similarly, Valbuena may get a little time at second base.