Face it, the Mariners are scrambling for offense, and the three-four spots in the batting order have been the biggest issue.

Today, Ken Griffey Jr. is in left field again, but batting fifth, not fourth. And Jose Lopez, who hit a game-tying, eighth-inning home run Saturday, is now the cleanup hitter.

Jason Vargas vs. Jason Hammel are the startes, and Vargas is in the same position all Mariners starers face - give up more than three runs and you're not likely to win.

Ichiro leads it off.

Let's go.

Run, Mariners, run

Ichiro singled, Beltre singled him to third, then stole second base and Jose Lopez hit a fly ball deep enough to score Ichiro.

Beltre stole third base, but Griffey grounded out weakly.

After one: Mariners 1, Rockies 0

One won't do it

One run won't be enough today.

A double by Brad Hawpe, single by Ryan Spilborghs and Troy Tulowitzki's fly ball got a run in and evened the game.

Vargas got out of it, but will need more offense to win.

After two: Mariners 1, Rockies 1

Two runs won' be enough for Seattle

Clint Barmes doubled and Todd Helton singled him home. Garrett Atkins singled, and Vargas got a visit at the mound from pitching coach Rick Adair.

It worked. Vargas struck out the next two Rockies.

After three: Rockies 2, Mariners 1

Rain again

For the third day in a row, it's raining in Colorado. The first two days, it washed out batting practice.

With two out in the fifth, Russell Branyan hit a long fly all that center fielder Dexter Fowler ran down at the wall.

That's as close to an offense as Seattle has shown since the first inning.

In the fifth - and in the rain: Rockies 2, Mariners 1

Worse than rain - it's runs

Rockies are having their way in the fifth, powered by a three-run double to Chris Iannetta following an intentional walk to Tulowitzki.

Vargas hasn't had much help - a ground ball rolled past Lopez at second, then another was thrown away for an error.

If the Mariners aren't going to score, the least they could do is place defense.

Five runs in the inning? Even in Coors, that seems more than the Mariners are likely to make up.

Vargas is gone. Roy Corcoran is in.

In the fifth: Rockies 7, Mariners 1

Now, a rain delay

Tarp is going on the field, Mariners are in the dugout looking up - watching Mother Nature's light show.

Running into the Rockies on a roll has probably been a sign that the Mariners are better than a year ago - but a long way from being a really good team.

If you're GM Jack Zduriencik, who do you trade and what do you want in return? And can you get it done before the rain stops?

A restart is in the works

This game is scheduled to begin again at 2:50 p.m. PDT. Unfortunately for Seattle, the Mariners will still trail by six.

And they're back

Josh Fogg now pitching for Colorado, and after a 55-minute wait, Jose Lopez grounded out.

Junior worked the count full, then drew a walk, his 31st of the season. Only Branyan (33) has more.

Yuniesky Betancourt grounded out.

In the sixth: Rockies 7, Mariners 1

Call it a lost weekend

The weather was stunning and the Rockies remained the hottest team in the game in their three-game series with the Mariners.

Ichiro, the first batter of the game, scored a run on a Lopez fly ball, and after that first inning score Seattle managed three hits.

After the second inning, no Seattle player reached scoring position.
So it's 11 consecutive wins for the Rockies, three losses in a row for the Mariners.

Yes, Kenji Johjima is due back next week, and he will help the offense slightly, but this team clearly must decide what to do with Mike Sweeney and Griffey Jr.

Neither is a middle of the offense hitter this season, and both are blocking players like Jeff Clement, Chris Shelton and Mike Morse in Tacoma.

It's hard to imagine anyone coming up from the Rainiers and producing less than Sweeney, Junior, Ronny Cedeno, Wladimir Balentien or any catcher on the roster.

Final score: Rockies 7, Mariners 1

Brandon Morrow's three-inning start for the Seattle Mariners Saturday was good enough to convince the team to give him another - Thursday in San Diego.

The move was made for two reasons: To give Morrow another start with a longer pitch count, and to give Jarrod Washurn more time to deal with continuing back spasms.

If you're keeping track at home, here's the rotation starting with Tuesday's game against the Padres:

Felix Hernandez, Garrett Olson, Brandon Morrow, Jarrod Washburn or Erik Bedard and Jason Vargas.

In essence, it's a six-man rotation at the moment, and it doesn't include Ryan Rowland-Smith, who remains in the Tacoma rotation.

With Bedard (stiff shoulder) and Washburn (back) dealing with minor ailments, neither is certain to make his next start - but each man could.

Yes, it's confusing. And after they go through the rotation once more, it could change again.