For the first time in his career, Jose Lopez started a game at first base tonight - and it won't be his last.
Manager Jim Riggleman and GM Lee Pelekoudas kicked the idea of moving Lopez from second about 10 days ago, and decided to go for it now.
It's not a permanent move, just the chance to see how it works and give the team - and Lopez - more options.
Meanwhile, the Mariners scored twice in the first inning for Ryan Feierabend, with Adrian Beltre and Yuniesky Betancourt driving in the runs.
Mariners 2, Angels 0 ...

No one said the experiment would be easy - Lopez has his first error as a first baseman after dropping a second-inning throw from Beltre.
That's not the worst thing that happened to Seattle in the inning. Afer Torii Hunter singled, Juan Rivera hit a Feierabend pitch over the center field wall for his 12th home run.
Lopez is learning. So is Feierabend.
Mariners 2, Angels 2 ...

Hunter and Rivera were at it again in the fourth - back-to-back doubles put the Angels ahead.
With Tug Hullett (.231), Rob Johnson (.000) and Luis Valbuena (.091) in the lineup, runs are going to be at a premium for Seattle.
Give up many more, this one will be over early.
Angels 3, Mariners 2 ...

Feierabend is gone, Randy Messenger came in and the Angels, while not breaking the game open, are inching away.
Juan Rivera, hitting .231, has a homer and two doubles tonight, and Brandon Wood - batting .193 - added an RBI single in the sixth.
Angels 4, Mariners 2 ...

Francisco Rodriguez in to try to close out this game with his Major League record 58th save of the season.
In 14 games this year between the two teams, the Mariners lost nine of the first 13, and F-Rod saved seven of those.
Tonight, pinch-hitter Miguel Cairo doubled, Luis Valbuena walked and Ichiro grounded into a fielders choice.
Wladimir Balentien struck out on an off-speed pitch - the kind he still hasn't learned to hit. Ibanez struck out.
Final: Angels 5, Mariners 2.

Adrian Beltre wrestled with the decision, talked to family and teammates and finally made up his mind - Sunday will be his last game of the season.

And Thursday, he will undergo thumb and shoulder surgery.
What persuaded him?

"I want to help this team the best I can next year, and doing it now will make sure I'm 100 per cent ready for spring training," Beltre said. "Everyone I talked to basically asked why I was still playing."

While the shoulder surgery is routine and will be arthroscopic, Beltre's left thumb will be a major operation - one the team trainer said will be the equivalent of 'Tommy John' surgery.

Doctors will have to replace a ligament torn in May, 2007, and rehabiltation is expected to take four to five months.

Next year would be the final season on Beltre's five-year, $64 million contract, and he was asked if he expected a trade over the off-season.

"I have no control over that," Beltre said. "I want to be back, but I want to win, too. If the team is really going to rebuild, I wouldn't want to be in that situation."

Playing all season with the torn ligament, Beltre batting .270 with 25 home runs and 76 RBI. His last game today will be his 143rd of the season.

"Adrian hasn't been pain free since spring training, but he's never asked out of the lineup," manager Jim Riggleman said. "In fact, getting him to take a day off is a fight. He's a complete professional."

He inherited a bad team and has it playing better - not great, but better - but Jim Riggleman is hardly satisfied.

After the Mariners lost to the Angels again Friday, he tried hard to defend a team that at least has been competitive since June.

"If there's a team in this league that's 30 games better than us, I'll kiss your butt on Main Street and give you 30 minutes to draw a crowd," Riggleman said.

Almost certainly, Riggleman will be among the casualties this off-season, and he may not be remembered for helping a lot of this team's young players along.

But in the pantheon of funny managerial quotes - a daily staple under Lou Piniella - last night was marvelous.

He said it with good humor, able to laugh a himself and take just a little pressure off his clubhouse.

Nice work, Jim. A borrowed quote from Whitey Herzog is always a treat.