It was a quiet time in the Seattle clubhouse this morning, just a handful of players and me, the always amiable beat guy.

Wladimir Balentien and Jose Lopez were playing cards, and when I asked who was winning, each said ‘I am.’ The team bus hadn’t arrived, and there were no coaches, no manager to talk to.

What could possibly go wrong?

Carlos Silva came out of the training room and I asked how his back was. He’d had spasms a night earlier, come out of the game after gritting his teeth on each pitch the final two innings – and Silva had won.

So I asked the question, and he ignored me and kept walking. Sometimes, players are focused and don’t hear you. Sometimes, they ignore you.

A few minutes later, Silva walked back across the clubhouse and as he passed, I asked again, ‘How’s your back this morning?’

“Good,” he said, and kept moving.

Not exactly expansive, but straight forward. About two minutes later, MLB.com writer Jim Street entered the clubhouse and glanced around, then asked who was winning the card game. We beat guys don’t miss a thing.

“They both are,” I told him.

Street saw Silva across the room and asked me, “How’s Carlos feeling?”

I told him Carlos might not be in a talkative mood, explaining our brief conversation. Silva came walking over, angry.

“If you have something to say to me, say it to me, don’t tell him,” he said. “You’re always stirring up poo.”

Ok, he didn’t say poo. Close enough.

“I was trying to save him and you time,” I told Silva.

“You’re always stirring up poo,” he said. “That’s why I don’t talk to you.”

I stared at him. A confused beat guy does that. Carlos had never not talked to me before.

“Don’t ever ask me for another interview,” Silva said and walked away.

I turned to Street.

“See what you started?” I asked. I thought about accusing him of stirring up poo.

And that, sometimes, is life in the clubhouse.

Endy Chavez is batting a cool .389 in his career against the Angels, and Russell Branyan is hitting .625 with two home runs and six RBI in this series.

It's Jarrod Washburn vs. Jered Weaver - we're underway!

The Angels awaken

Torii Hunter singles on a jam-shot into center field, then Washburn makes a rare mistake - a fastball up - and Howie Kendrick hits it out.

That's two quick runs, and the Mariners trail for the first time this series.

After two: Angels 2, Mariners 0

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Adding on

The Angels worked a walk out of Wsshburn, then Bobby Abreu doubled off the wall in right center field and Gary Matthews Jr. scored from first base.

Mariners have two hits, both singles.

After three: Angels 3, Mariners 0

There goes another one

A one-out home run from Juan Rivera, and the Angels are pulling away.

Washburn is a fly all pitcher, and it's a long fly ball kind of day - at least for the home team.

After four: Angels 4, Mariners 0

Adding on, again

A one-out double by Abreu, an RBI single from Torii Hunter and the Angels are averaging a run an inning.

The Mariners have three singles, one of those a pop fly lost in the sun.

Washburn is giving up just enough offense to lose, and he may do just that.

After five: Angels 5, Mariners 0

It's Over

Mariners never got much going and went quietly.

Final: Angels 8, Mariners 0

Closer Brandon Morrow is having what he calls his annual shoulder soreness - a pinch that causes a quick burst of pain when he tries to throw.

"I had it last year, and it took three days to clear it up," Morrow said. "I had it the year before, it took about three days. If I have a shoulder problem, it's always this."

Morrow last pitched Thursday, and said he felt the pain then, got loose and pitched. He said his velocity was down, and the next day he couldn't even get loose.

Today is his third day not throwing - other than a quick catch to test it. Morrow doesn't want a setback, and neither does the team.

"If we need a closer in the ninth, and I hope we do, it'll probably be David Aardsma," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "The creative aspect will be trying to get to him."

Shawn Kelley has thrown two consecutivce days, Mark Lowe hasn't pitched particularly well, so Roy Corcoran might act as a middle-inning bridge if the Mariners need one today.