General manager Jack Zduriencik, the ever-vigilant, has found another pitcher for the Seatle system - 26-year-old right-hander Steven Shell.

Shell was designated for assignment last week by the Washington Nationals, and Zduriencik signed him to a minor league contract and assigned him to Tacoma.

Originally drafted by the Angels, Shell made his big-league debut last year, appeared in 39 games and went 2-2 with a 2.16 earned run average with the Nationals - the third best ERA among National League rookies with at least 50 innings pitched.

This year, he appeared in four games with Washington and had a 5.40 ERA.

Brandon Morrow is upset, Rob Johnson is catching and both teams are wearing 1939-style uniforms in a Turn Back the Clock promotion.

Morrow's on the disabled list, Kenji Johjima is getting the night off and Ken Griffey Jr. is back as the designated hitter against a right-handed Oakland starter.

Mariners have won six in a row from the Athletics, so hit the couch and tune in.
Jarrod Washburn vs. Trevor Cahill.

And we're off.

Branyan time - again

Russell Branyan led off the second inning with another towering home run to left-center field, his sixth home run of the season.

In his 18 games with Seattle, he's batting .342 with six home runs, 14 RBI and 16 strikeouts.

The Mariners will live with those strikeouts if his RBI total keeps pace.

After two: Mariners 1, Athletics 0

Does almost scoring count?

The Mariners made as little of two hits and a walk in the third inning as possible.

Ichiro opened with a single and, with Chavez att he plate, took off on a hit-and-run play. For whatever reason, Ichiro broke stride looking toward the plate, Chavez swung through the pitch and Ichiro was called out on a bang-bang play at first.

What followed: a walk to Chavez and a two-out double for Adrian Beltre. Chavez almost scored from first base but was cut down at home on a second close play.

Here come the Athletics

Through five innings, Washburn had thrown 70 pitches and shut out Oakland on three hits, and led 1-0.

He'd pitched out of trouble, and nearly did it again in the sixth.

Instead, A two-out double into the right field corner by Jason Giambi chased home the tying run. Washburn intentionally walked Matt Holiday to get to the left-handed hitting Jack Cust.

Lefty vs. lefty, Washburn got an easy fly ball.

To the bottom of six: Mariners 1, Athletics 1

Here come the Mariners

One out into the seventh, Franklin Gutierrez singles for the second time - he's 2-for-2 - and Yuniesky Betancourt singles him to second base.

Ichiro bloops his second hit into right field to load the bases for Chavez. With the infield looking for a bunt, Chavez swung away and flied deep to left field, chasing Gutierrez home with the go-ahead run.

Washburn is done, Mark Lowe is in to pitch.

After seven: Mariners 2, Athletics 1

That didn't last long

A little bad luck, a few bad pitches, and there went Seattle's lead.

A one out attempt at a diving cath by Chavez in left gave Ryan Sweeney a double when it skipped by, but Lowe got Orlando Cabrera on a fly ball.

Giambi's two-out single tied the game.

With Morrow out, the Mariners bullpen is a different animal. David Aardsma is the closer, Shawn Kelley the setup man/co-closer, meaning the team was hoping to find another arm to get them to the ninth tonight.

Lowe got the first chance, and lost a one-run lead..

To bottom eighth: Mariners 2, Athletics 2

Ugh. And that's final

Oakland pushed home a run in the ninth against Aardsma - one that Ichiro's strong throw from right field almost prevented.

Seattle went 1-2-3 in the ninth.

Athletics 3, Mariners 2

Sorry for the brief post, but it came from the blackberry. And I also had to go to the A's clubhouse before I head back to Tacoma for the Rainiers.

As I mentioned earlier, Brandon Morrow has been placed on the disabled list with biceps tendonitis. The injury is retroactive to April 24th and means he's eligible to come off the DL on May 9th. Denny Stark has been called up and according to manager Don Wakamatsu will be used in the 5th to 7th inning range.

As expected, David Aardsma will step in and fill the closer's role for the time being and Shawn Kelley will most likely be used as the eighth inning set-up man.

Morrow wasn't pleased about going on the disabled list and thinks he can pitch.

"I didn't want to go on the disabled list," he said. "I told them I'm ready to pitch. We argued, they won the argument."

"We talked about it last night, and the decision was made before I got here this morning," he said. "It started last night because I asked why I hadn't been called upon.

As for his side of the argument, Morrow pointed to having the same issue last season.

"My argument was that I went through this last year, and after four or five days I was fine for the rest of the year," he said. "What they're doing is for my safety, I understand that. But I'm frustrated. I haven't been out there in a week, I don't feel it at all."

When asked if he was angry, Morrow said: "I'm not angry. I'm not injured. I came to the park today ready to pitch, and now I'm on the DL."

Wakamatsu offered these thoughts ...

"We had talked to him about being available," Wakamatsu said. "But it's kind of at that point where if we are little bit proactive we can allow him probably seven or eight days ... where we can kind of control it a little bit more. It was the best move for Brandon and the best move for the club."

Morrow will throw a bullpen today and the Mariners will see how he reacts tomorrow and if it goes well, he'll throw bullpens every other day till he's eligible to come off.

"When it got 2-2, i got a little nervous, I told myself relax," Lopez said after the game. "He threw me everything, change-up, slider, everything I finally said this is my time to win the game."

Look at the this ...

Here's MLB.com's complete Gameday sequence of the at-bat ...

Here's the MLB.com video of it.

Here's the pitch f/x breakdown of the at-bat

Here's today's minor league report, thanks always to Kelly Munro of the Mariners

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (PCL)
Here's Todd Milles' game story from last night
Fresno 4 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors
Tacoma 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines:
RH Gaby Hernandez (L, 0-2) 7.0,6,4,3,1,3,HR
RH Eric Hull 2.0,1,0,0,1,3
With the Bats:
RH Prentice Redman (right) 2x2, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB
DH Mike Carp 1x3, R, HR, RBI
CF Freddy Guzman 1x4, 2B
Of Note: Fresno scored 4 runs in the 6th inning, rallying for a 4-3 victory over Tacoma on Friday night. Trailing 3-0, Fresno tied the score on a 3-run homer by Jesus Guzman. The Grizzlies took the lead later in the 6th inning when an error by left fielder Mike Saunders allowed Ryan Rohlinger to score. Prentice Redman and Mike Carp each hit home runs for the Rainiers. Tacoma starter Gaby Hernandez allowed 4 runs (3 ER) in 7.0 innings and took the loss to fall to 0-2. For the 1st time in 627 minor-league games, infielder Mike Morse played at second base. He started in place of Callix Crabbe, who jammed his wrist sliding into a base Thursday. Right-handed relievers Jared Wells and Luiz Muñoz were promoted from AA West Tennessee, and were on the active roster Friday. Muñoz will make at a spot start Sunday. Mike Carp is hitting .448 (13x29) with 9 runs scored, 5 extra-base hits and 6 RBI during his current 7- game hit streak. Prentice Redman has hit safely 18 of 21 games this season, batting .337 (28x83) with 20 runs scored, 5 doubles, 7 home runs and 13 RBI.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Doug Fister (0-0, 2.84 ERA) vs. Fresno

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
West Tennessee 3 runs, 5 hits, 0 errors
Birmingham 4 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Ryan Patrick 6.0,5,3,3,2,3,HR,HB
RH Mumba Rivera (L, 2-2) 2.0,2,1,1,2,4,WP
With the Bats:
CF Ezequiel Carrera (right)2x3, R, RBI, BB, SB
2B Mel Stocker 1x3, 2B, SB, HP
3B Matt Mangini 1x4, R
RF Brent Johnson 1x4
Of Note: Jaxx starter, Patrick Ryan dealt his 2nd quality start in a row, dealing 6.0 innings, allowing 3 runs while scattering 5 hits. Ezequiel Carrera extended his on-base streak to 20 games. He is currently batting .370 (27x73) with 21 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 9 RBI and 5 stolen bases. Carrera is leading the Southern League in average an on-base percentage. Justin Souza has not allowed an earned run in his last 14.0 consecutive innings. During this stretch he has limited opponents to a .192 (10x52) batting average, while walking 2 and striking out 13.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Justin Souza (0-1, 1.80) at Birmingham

A High Desert (California League)
High Desert 6 runs, 10 hits, 3 errors
Rancho Cucamonga 4 runs, 9 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines:
RH Juan Ramirez 5.1,4,2,1,1,2,WP,HB
RH Natividad Dilone (W, 1-0) 1.2,0,0,0,0,1,HB
RH Aaron Jensen 1.0,2,3,3,1,1
RH Phillippe Aumont (right) (S, 3) 1.0,0,0,0,0,1
With the Bats:
C Travis Scott 2x4, R, HR, RBI
1B Ian Bladergroen 2x3, 2B, 3 RBI, BB
DH Joe Dunigan 2x4, 2 R, SB
CF Tyson Gillies 1x4, R, 3B
Of Note: For the 2nd straight night the Mavs broke a game wide open with a big 7th inning rally, using 4 runs in the 7th on Friday night to beat Rancho Cucamonga 6-5. Phillippe Aumont picked up his 3rd save of the season, tossing a scoreless 9th inning. He extended his scoreless innings streak to 9.1 innings (9 G). This season he has allowed only 1 run in 11.1 innings, while walking 6 and striking out 10 and has limited opponents to .189 (7x37) average. Joe Dunigan has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games, batting .447 (21x47) with 14 runs scored, 11 extrabase hits and 13 RBI. Juan Diaz has hit safely in 17 of 19 games this season with 5 multi-hit games, batting .360
(27x75) with 15 runs scored, 7 extra-base hits and 7 RBI. Edilio Colina went 0x3 in the game ending his hitting streak at 11 games. During the streak he hit .333 (16x48). Alex Liddi hit safely in 17 of 21 games this season, batting .381 (32x84) with 10 multi-hit games.
Today’s probable starter:
LH Donnie Hume (1-0, 5.19 ERA) at Rancho Cucamonga

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest Lg.)
Fort Wayne 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors
Clinton 4 runs, 7 hits, 0 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Kenn Kasparek (right) (W, 1-2) 5.2,1,0,0,0,10
RH Greg Moviel 0.0,1,1,1,3,0
RH Cheyne Hann 2.1,1,0,0,0,2
RH Ruben Flores (S, 3) 1.0,0,0,0,1,0
With the Bats:
LF Denny Almonte 2x4, R, HR, RBI
DH Scott Savastano 2x4, 2B, RBI, SB
CF Daniel Carroll 2x4
2B Ogui Diaz 1x3, R, HR, RBI
Of Note: After 2 shaky outings and a solid no-decision in his first 3 starts, Kenn Kasparek finally displayed his old University of Texas dominance Friday night, striking out a career-high 10 batters over 5.2 innings as Clinton beat Fort Wayne, 4-1. Kasparek retired the first 11 men he faced before allowing a 2-out double to Sawyer Carroll in the 4th. He went on to retire the next 6 before being lifted due to pitch count.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Walter Suriel (0-1, 2.00 ERA) vs. Quad Cities