AAA Tacoma Rainiers (PCL)
Here's Mike Curto's game story
BOX SCORE
Tacoma 8 runs, 9 hits, 1 error
Salt Lake 6 runs, 12 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines:
RH Gaby Hernandez (W, 1-2) 5.0,4,2,2,1,5
RH Jared Wells 1.1,3,2,2,0,1
LH Justin Thomas 1.1,4,2,2,2,3
RH Randy Messenger 1.1,1,0,0,0,0
With the Bats:
2B Callix Crabbe 2x5, R, 2 2B, 2 RBI
CF Jerry Owens 2x4, R, RBI, 2 SB, BB
LF Bryan LaHair (pictured)2x3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
3B Chris Shelton 1x2, R, RBI, HP, BB
RF Prentice Redman 1x5, R, 3B, RBI

Of Note: Callix Crabbe hit a tying, 2-run double before scoring the go-ahead run on Jerry Owens' single in the 5th inning, and Tacoma went on to beat Salt Lake 8-6 on Wednesday night. It was the fourth win for the Rainiers in their past 19 games at Salt Lake. The Rainiers lead in the PCL in team home runs (33), including 17 home runs on the road (in 15 games) and 10 versus the Bees (in 7 games). The Rainiers pitching staff currently ranks 2nd in the PCL in strikeouts (188). The Fresno Grizzlies lead the league in struck out batters (199).

Today’s probable starter:
RH Doug Fister (0-0, 2.08 ERA) at Salt Lake

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)
Huntsville RAINED OUT
West Tennessee
Of Note: The Diamond Jaxx and Stars game at 11:05 TODAY has been postponed due to rain and a scheduled double-header is set for Thursday, beginning at 5:05. Greg Halman has knocked in 22 RBI in his last 13 games. During this stretch he is batting .313 (15x48) with 13 runs scored, 3 doubles, 8 home runs and 23 RBI. Halman currently leads the Southern League in home runs (10) and RBI (28). Ezequiel Carrera extended his on-base streak to 23 games. He is currently batting .357 (30x84) with 24 runs scored, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 14 RBI and 6 stolen bases.
Today’s probable starter:
Game 1: LH Daniel Christensen (0-1, 18.00 ) vs. Huntsville
Game 2: TBA vs. Huntsville

A High Desert (California League)
BOX SCORE
Game story from Victorville Daily Press
Inland Empire 10 runs, 18 hits, 0 errors
High Desert 12 runs, 19 hits, 0 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Juan Ramirez 3.1,8,7,7,2,4,4HR,2WP
LH Edward Paredes 1.2,3,2,2,2,1,HR
RH Juan Zapata 2.0,2,0,0,0,0
RH Travis Mortimore 3.0,4,1,1,1,3
RH Steven Richard (W, 2-0) 1.0,1,0,0,0,1
With the Bats:
LF/1B Joe Dunigan 4x7, 3 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI
CF Tyson Gillies 3x6, R, 2B, HR, RBI, BB
RF/LF Kuo Hui Lo 3x6, R
2B Edilio Colina 2x6, 2 R, BB
1B Ian Bladergroen 2x4, R
DH Carlos Peguero 1x6, R, HR 3 RBI

Of Note: Joe Dunigan (left) slugged 3 home runs, including a 2- run shot in the bottom of the 11th that propelled the Mavs to a 12-10 win Wednesday night over Inland Empire. It was the 5th time this season Dunigan had a multi-homer game, but the 1st time he hit 3 in a game. He now has a total of 7 home runs in 5 games against the 66ers. Dunigan finished with 4 hits and a career-high 7 RBI on the night. He hit a 2-run homer in the 1st, a 3-run shot in the 7th before the walk-off shot in the 11th. He has hit safely in 15 of his last 17 games, batting .413 (31x75) with 20 runs scored, 7 doubles, 10 home runs and 23 RBI. Tyson Gillies currently has a 9-game hit streak, batting .343 (12x35) with 9 runs scored, 5 extra-base hits and 5 RBI.
Today’s probable starter:
LH Donnie Hume (2-0, 4.15 ERA) vs. Inland Empire

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest Lg.)
BOX SCORE
Clinton 5 runs, 5 hits, 3 errors
Dayton 7 runs, 11 hits, 3 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Kenn Kasparek 3.0,5,3,2,1,5,HB
LH Bobby LaFromboise 3.1,3,1,1,2,4
RH Chris Kirkland (L,0-1) 0.0,2,3,3,2,0
RH Chyne Hann 0.2,1,0,0,1,0
RH Greg Moviel 1.0,0,0,0,2,0
With the Bats:
PH/1B Kris Sanchez 3x3, R, 2B, HR, RBI
LF/RF Denny Almonte 1x4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
DH Scott Savastano 1x2, R, HR, RBI, HP, 2 BB
Of Note: Right after Clinton had taken a 5-3 lead on the strength of Kris Sanchez's solo home run and Maximo Mendez's trip around the bases (walk, steal, 2 errors), the bullpen suffered a 4-walk, 4-run meltdown as Dayton got away with a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night. Denny Almonte currently has an 8-game hit streak, batting .344 (11x32) with 67 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 10 RBI. He has also hit safely in 21 of 24 games this season, batting .308 (28x91). Scott Savastano has hit safely in 17 of 22 games this season, batting .329 (26x79) with 16 runs scored, 7 extra-base hits and 13 RBI. Juan Diaz currently went 0x4 in the game ending his hit streak at 6 games. During the streak he hit .391 (9x23). He has now hit safely in 18 of 21 games this season, batting .337 (28x83) with 17 runs scored, 7 extra-base hits and 8 RBI.
Today’s probable starter:
RH Walter Suriel (0-2, 5.54 ERA) at Dayton

Jarrod Washburn isn't at home in Kansas City, but he must sometimes wish he were - his record pitching here is 6-1, and his lifeime ERA of 2.30 is second only to Roger Clemens.

Ah, but there's a rub. Isn't there always?

The Mariners don't win in this ballpark. They were 1-6 here last season and are 0-1 this year, having scored exactly once on Wednesday.

In fact, through 28 games this season, Seattle has scored one run or less seven times. That, and starter Brian Bannister has a 1.96 ERA.

Oh, let them play, anyway. See what happens.

We're off.

Hit it on the ground and run!

As an offense, that's not much of an attack, but the Mariners use what they have.

Ichiro led off the game with a two-hopper to shortstop and beat the throw for an infield single, then stole second base (No. 5).

With one out, Jose Lopez rolled a ball to shortstsop and beat that out, with Ichiro taking third.

Cleanup hitter Russell Branyan struck out. Adrian Beltre hit a soft line drive to second.
No runs. Two infield hits. Yes, Virginia, this is what's keeping Seattle pitchers awake nights.

That wasn't Yuni's fault

An error at shortstop cost the Mariners a run, but Yuniesky Betancourt wasn't out there - Ronny Cedeno was.

After a two-out double and stolen base bt Coco Crisp, David DeJesus grounded to short, where Cedeno fielded the ball, transferred it to his throwing hand and dropped it.
Crisp scored. The Royals lead. The Mariners are officially slumping.

After three: Royals 1, Mariners 0

Look familiar?

It should. Not only did the Royals use little ball to add on a run, they used Willie Bloomquist to do it.

Bloomquist singled to run his hitting streak to 10 games, was bunted to second base an scored on a ground ball single from Mike Aviles.

This game might seem within reach if the Mariners would, like, score.

After five: Royals 2, Mariners 0

That's not small ball

Ichiro walked and Gutierrez was safe on an error.

Big inning? No. Small ball? No again.
Lopez tried to bunt the runners over, fouled the attempt off and then grounded into the third double play of the day for Seattle.

Branyan popped up. Another opportunity wasted.
Now that's just wasteful

The bottom of the Seattle lineup today - No. 8 hitter Rob Johnson and No. 9 Cedeno - has combined to go 0-for-6 with six strikeouts.

That's the equivalent of two full innings not putting a ball in play.

Add that to the four double plays grounded into, and you can see how scoring a run might be difficult without a long ball.

Washburn pitched seven marvelous innings but wouldn't have been much better off if he'd no-hit the Royals - all it would have given him is a tie.

To the bottom of eight: Royals 2, Mariners 0
And it's over

Four Kansas City pitchers, and the Mariners couldn't score against any of them until there were two outs in the ninth inning.

Seattle has now lost a season-high four games in a row, dropped to 15-14 and out of first place in the American League West and quite simply ceased to hit - especially when it matters most.

Of their nine hits today, three didn't leave the infield and only one came with a runner in scoring position.

In May, Washburn has worked 14 innings over two starts, allowed two earned runs, and gone 0-1.

Mike Sweeney's pinch-hit single drove in Seattle's only run, pinch hitter Betancourt drew a walk after falling behind 0-2.

That got the game to Ichiro, two outs in the ninth, with the bases loaded. He grounded out.

When the Mariners get things straightened out, these games may haunt them.

The final score: Royals 3, Mariners 1

I guess Manny being Manny has taken on a whole new meaning. The Dodgers rightfielder and the best right-handed hitter in major league baseball has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs -- notice I didn't write steroids.

The LA Times, which broke the story, and most other media outlets here and here and here are saying that it hasn't been confirmed what exactly he tested positive for. So at this point, to accuse him of steroid use would be a bit presumptive. Manny said that what he was taking was prescribed by his doctor for a personal medical issue. So until more news comes out, to accuse him of steroid use is a bit premature.

Honestly, part of me is stunned by it, but the other part just made me shrug my shoulders and say to myself, "so there's another one." At some point, you just become numb to that type of shock. It all becomes matter of fact. It's a pretty sad and depressing reaction And not one baseball wants from its fans.

When will this stuff end?

No decision on Carlos Silva yet, but that's not surprise. A day game after a night game doesn't allow much time for consultation within the organization - but it would be a surpise is Silva makes the next start when the No. 3 spot in the rotation rolls around in Texas.

Meanwhile, Ronny Cedeno is back in the lineup, giving SS Yuniesky Betancourt a breather.

The bullpen is rested, Jarrod Washburn is pitching well - all the Mariners need is some offense.

Oh, that.

Here's the lineup:

Ichiro RF
Franklin Gutierrez CF
Jose Lopez 2B
Russell Branyan 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. DH
Wladimir Balentien LF
Rob Johnson C
Ronny Cedeno SS
Jarrod Washburn