Bryan LaHair’s two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning helped rally Seattle from a five-run deficit to an 8-7 victory over he Los Angeles Dodgers.

Typical spring game – lots of moments when you shake your head, just as many when you’re pleasantly surprised. Take the inning where Wladimir Balentien and Mike Morse each singled, only to be thrown out in turn trying to steal second base.

Gabby Hernandez started for the ailing Brandon Morrow and pitched two shutout innings, then was tagged for three runs when he tried to go three innings. The win went to Tracy Thorpe, and Randy Messenger worked a perfect ninth inning for his third save.

Balentien, the outfielder who missed 10 days of camp with visa problems, also homered in the game – he and Morse were the only Mariner with more than one hit – and Mike Sweeney went 0-for-2 with a walk in his first game.

The victory left the Mariners 5-2-1 in the Cactus League. Can rings be far behind?

Another day, another Mariners lineup filled mostly with six-year minor league free agents, journeymen and guys who don’t figure to have a big-league job in a month.
That’s no insult – these guys play hard, and they’re doing the best they can.

But the longer guys like outfielder Prentice Redman play, the more they’re exposed as players who haven’t made it for a reason. As Lou Piniella and other veteran managers like to say, most players cut themselves in spring training.

Here’s the lineup, and – for the first time – it includes Mike Sweeney.

Chris Woodward SS (pictured)
Jeff Clement C
Adrian Beltre 3B
Mike Sweeney DH
Mike Carp 1B
Wladimir Balentien CF
Mike Morse RF
Prentice Redman LF
Reegie Corona 2B
Gabby Hernandez P

One of the phantoms of spring training, 2009, Ichiro Suzuki will likely play 162 games this season, most of them as the right fielder.

Just as likely, he’ll collect 215 or so hits – 190 of those singles – score 100 runs, steal 35 bases, win a Gold Glove and, oh yes, be called overrated. And that will get more attention that any of the other things he does.

There’s another way to look at Ichiro’s value that has little to do with sabermetrics or the cloudy opinion of scouts.

Here it is: Imagine Ichiro is abducted by aliens while playing for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. The Mariners must then replace him in right field. And as their leadoff hitter.

Ummmm.

The truth is, at this point in franchise history, the Seattle Mariners are built around Ichiro. Felix Hernandez may be the face of the pitching staff, but Ichiro is the anchor that keeps this team from floating into national oblivion.

Adrian Beltre is a great third baseman. But by late July, he’ll likely be in another uniform. Yuniesky Betancourt still draws rave reviews from scouts who see him in a three-game series – but if he doesn’t learn the game or how to prepare to play one, his future in Seattle is in doubt, too.

Then, there’s Ichiro. He will, on occasion, take some heat here. He won’t dive for a fly ball or challenge a wall on the run. He won’t try to steal a base – no matter what the game situation – if he doesn’t feel he has a clear advantage.

Yada, yada, yada.

What he does give the Mariners is something they couldn’t replace if he weren’t here. That’s the definition of a great player, and the Mariners have one they’re planning on keeping.

No offense, Japan, but an early-round loss in the WBC would certainly make the Mariners a better-looking spring team.