Jarrod Washburn is off to a better start than his 3-2 record indicates, and one of the statistics that bears that out is this one:

Washburn ranks third in the American League in opponents batting average with runners in scoring position - holding the opposition to a .115 average.

The only starter with a lower number is Kansas City phenom Zach Greinke (.083).

He may want to employ his sinker more than usual tonight, because fly balls here are likely to get blown to Fort Worth. Flags are literally stiff in a swirling wind that, in batting practice, seemed to carry out to all fields. Go figure.

The Mariners would also benefit from a good defensive effort. They're 11-7 in errorless games, just 5-10 when they commit an error.

It's a chance to get back to .500. And we're off.

Hey - it's a lead!

Adrian Beltre led off the second inning with an opposite field home run, and the Mariners scored first for the first time since May 5.

As amazing, it lasted beyond the bottom half of the inning.

In the third: Mariners 1, Rangers 0

Mariners long ball

Two outs into the fourth inning, Kenji Johjima hit No. 2 with a runner aboard, and handed Washburn a 3-0 lead.

Yes, he appears giddy.

No, it's not necessarily enough. Not in this park, against this team, in this wind.

In the fourth: Mariners 3, Rangers 0

Here comes Texas

The last thing Washburn wanted to do with a three-run lead was walk anyone, so in the fourth inning he walks two Rangers and set himself up for trouble.

He got out of it pretty cheaply, allowing one run and getting the final two outs with the bases loaded.

After four: Mariners 3, Rangers 1

That would be gone

Ian Kinsler walked, and one out later Washburn threw an off-speed pitch that Josh Hamilton sped up - going the other way.

Estimated at 403 feet, the home run hit the scoreboard on the front of the second deck in right field and, oh yes, tied the score.
Home runs happen. So far, the walks have cost Washburn more.

After five: Mariners 3, Rangers 3

That would be gone, too

Russell Branyan did his Paul Bunyan thing to a Brandon McCarthy fastball, hitting it out to straightaway center field.

It was Branyan's eighth of the season - or five more than any other Mariner.
In the sixth: Mariners 4, Rangers 3

The Rangers come back ... again

Washburn may have been pitching on fumes, using his 110th pitch to close out the sixth inning with a man on third base.

That man, Elvis Andrus, had tripled home the tying run, but Washburn gamely held it there.

Now, he's done for the night, and unless the Mariners score quickly, he'll have nothing to do with the decision.

After six: Mariners 4, Rangers 4

The lucky 11th

A Texas error put Adrian Beltre aboard in the 11th inning, Branyan bunted him to second base and Wladimir Balentien drove a double down the right field foul line to put the Mariners ahead.

Ball game? Not so fast.

Closer Brandon Morrow gave up a single and a walk before getting an out. Hank Blalock doubled and there it was, a walk off win for Texas.

Final score: Rangers 6, Mariners 5

Yesterday’s Results, Standings, Winner/Loser/Save
Tacoma 9, at New Orleans 7 17-15, 3rd, -3.0 W-Steve Shell (1-0)/SV-R. Messenger (5)
West Tenn 1, at Tennessee 0 12-17, 3rd, -3.5 W-M. Rivera (3-2)
High Desert 6, at Rancho Cucamonga 4 22-10, 1st, +4.0 W-M. Pineda (4-1)/SV-P. Aumont (6)
Beloit 3, at Clinton 2 18-12, 2nd, -1.5 L-K. Kasparek (1-3)

AAA Tacoma Rainiers (Pacific Coast League)

Here's Mike Curto's game story
BOX SCORE
Tacoma 9 runs, 15 hits, 0 errors
New Orleans 7 runs, 15 hits, 0 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Doug Fister 4.0,9,4,4,0,3
RH Steve Shell (W, 1-0) 2.0,2,1,1,0,2,HR
LH Justin Thomas 2.0,4,2,2,3,0
RH Randy Messenger (SV, 5) 1.0,0,0,0,0,0
With the Bats:
LF Bryan LaHair (pictured) 3x5, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, K
DH Jeff Clement 3x5, HR, 2B, R, 2 RBI, K
SS Mike Morse 2x4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, K
RF Prentice Redman 2x6, 2 2B, R
Rainiers Notes: The Rainiers continued their hot streak, winning their season high 4th straight game and 6th over the last 7 days, with a 9-7 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs. DH Jeff Clement got the Rainiers started with a 2-run homer in the first inning. In the third, Mike Morse and Bryan LaHair hit back-to-back homers and
LaHair added another in the sixth; it was his 2nd multi-homer game of the season. LaHair is now tied for 4th in the PCL with 9 home runs. Starter Doug Fister made his 2nd start of the season and tossed a season high 4.0 innings, leaving the game with a lead. Reliever Steve Shell (1-0) earned his first win for the Rainiers with 2.0 innings. Randy Messenger recorded his 5th save of the season and has not allowed a run in his last 6 appearances (6.2 IP).
Today’s probable starter:
LH Chris Seddon (1-2, 6.53) at New Orleans

AA West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Southern League)

BOX SCORE
West Tenn 1 run, 6 hits, 2 errors
Tennessee 0 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH Kyle Parker (pictured) 7.0,3,0,0,3,3
RH Mumba Rivera (W, 3-2) 2.0,0,0,0,2,1
With the Bats:
DH Johan Limonta 2x3, 2B, BB
2B Jeff Dominguez 1x4, RBI, K
Jaxx Notes: The Diamond Jaxx won their 2nd in a row after dropping 5-straight with a 1-0 win over the Tennessee Smokies. West Tenn. was held to only 6 hits but their pitching was even better, tossing a 3- hit shutout. Starter Kyle Parker tossed a season high 7.0 shutout innings and Mumba Rivera tossed 2.0 innings for the win, his 3rd straight appearance of at least 2.0 innings and 5th time in his last 7 games. The game was scoreless until the 9th when Matt Mangini and Johan Limonta started with single. Following a sacrifice by Leury Bonilla, Jeff Dominguez singled in the winning run. CF Ezequiel Carrera was 1-for-4 and has reached base in 27 of his last 28 games (.337, 35x104). Carrera currently ranks T8th in the Southern League batting race. Mangini has hit safely in 13 of his last 15, batting .351 (20x57) with 6 runs, 4 extra-base hits, 12 RBI. OF Greg Halman leads Southern league in home runs (10), RBI (28).
Today’s probable starter:
LH Danny Christensen (0-1, 8.59) at Tennessee

A High Desert Mavericks (California League)

BOX SCORE
NOTES: Michael Pineda returns after a stint on the DL with a strong outing.
High Desert 6 runs, 7 hits, 1 error
Rancho 4 runs, 8 hits, 4 errors
Pitching Lines:
RH J.C. Ramirez 5.0,6,4,4,3,1
RH Michael Pineda (pictured)(W, 4-1) 2.0,1,0,0,0,0
LH Travis Mortimore 1.0,1,0,0,0,0
RH Phillippe Aumont (SV, 6) 1.0,0,0,0,0,1
With the Bats:
1B Ian Bladergroen 1x3, R, 2 RBI, BB
3B Alex Liddi 1x5, 2 RBI
2B Edilio Colina 2x4, R
Mavericks Notes: The Mavericks won in come-from-behind fashion over Rancho Cucamonga with 3 runs in the 7th on a leadoff triple by Carlos Peguero, an RBI single from James McOwen and a 2-run single from Alex Liddi. High Desert has not lost a series this season and leads the California League South Division by 4.0 games. SS Juan Diaz went 0x3 and had his career-high 11-game hitting streak snapped. OF Tyson Gillies currently has 13-game hit streak (.392/20x51). 3B Alex Liddi (.369/5th), Diaz (.362/7th) and OF Joe Dunigan (.359/8th) are ranked in the top 10 in the California League in batting. Dunigan, Seattle 5th round selection in 2007, leads the league in home runs (12), RBI (35) and slugging (.758). He leads all minor leaguers with 26 extra base hits. RH Phillippe Aumont is 0-1 with a 0.57 ERA (1 ER, 15.2 IP) in 15 relief appearances including 6- for-6 in save opportunities. Mavs lead league batting .309 overall with league-best 48 home runs.
Today’s probable starter:
LH Donnie Hume (2-1, 6.00) at Rancho Cucamonga

A Clinton LumberKings (Midwest League)
Game story from Clinton Herald
BOX SCORE
Beloit 3 runs, 8 hits, 0 errors
Clinton 2 runs, 8 hits, 1 error
Pitching Lines:
RH Kenn Kasparek (L, 1-3) 5.2,4,3,1,2,4
LH Bobby LaFromboise 1.0,1,0,0,1,0
RH Blake Nation 2.1,3,0,0,1,4
With the Bats:
DH Mario Martinez 2x4, HR, RBI, R, 2K
3B Nate Tenbrink 2x3, 2B, 3B, RBI, BB, K
CF Maximo Mendez 1x3, R, 3B, K
Lumberkings Notes: The LumberKings opened a 4-game series against Beloit with a loss. All of the scoring came in the first two innings as Maximo Mendez and Nate Tenbrink both tripled in the 1st and Mario Martinez homered in the 2nd. Starter Kenn Kasparek allowed only 1 ER in 5.2 IP and Bobby LaFromboise and Black Nation tossed 3.1 ShO innings in relief. OF Denny Almonte has hit safely in 24 of 28 games this season (.293) and ranks 2nd in the Midwest League with 7 home runs. OF Maximo Mendez is 2nd in the league with 14 stolen bases.
Today’s probable starter:
TBA vs. Beloit

Don Wakamatsu promised a few changes - he doesn't have the roster to make many more - and he's delivered today.

Ronny Cedeno is the shortstop, and Yuniesky Betancourt is not.

Wladimir Balentien is the left fielder, and Endy Chavez is not.

And, before long, Rob Johnson may be starting more games at catcher than Kenji Johjima.

If Mike Sweeney's back was better, if he wasn't a health risk to play the field, he might be the first baseman in place of Russell Branyan.

The thinking is clear on all this. The status quo is changing, and if the Mariners have more talent ready on the farm, it's likely to filter up as soon as roster space becomes available.

Simply put: the Mariners staff expects maximum effort and focus, and they're not getting it.

They're not getting it in the heart of the lineup, either - so expect that to change, too.

While we await details, any suggestions?