Fresh off another loss in which they couldn't get over the great three-run barrier, the Seattle Mariners know what their offensive problems are.

On nights when their top two hitters - Ichiro Suzuki and Russell Branyan - don't reach base, scoring is going to be an issue.

Beyond those two, the Mariners don't have any regular hitting as high as .280.

They do, however, have two batting under .200.

Compare, for a moment, the bottom four hitters in Seattle's lineup Wednesday to the last four in New York's.

The Mariners?

Wladimir Balentien: .225 wih three home runs and 10 RBI. Chris Woodward, batting .333 in six games, no home runs, no RBI. Rob Johnson, batting .187 with no home runs, 13 RBI. And Ronny Cedeno, batting .140 with three home runs and eight RBI.

The Yankees?
Robinson Cano (.300, 12, 42), Nick Swisher (.238, 14, 39) Melkey Cabrera (.287, 8, 32) and Cody Ransom (.190, 0, 8).

Cano, Swisher and Cabrera each have more RBI than all four of those Mariners combined.

The Balentien experiment has run its course, Woodward is a useable reserve infielder, as is Cedeno - but neither is an every day player. And Johnson may be a better catcher than Kenji Johjima, but neither is hitting this season.

The Mariners don't see an outfielder, third baseman, middle infielder or catcher in their system ready to replace anyone currently on the 25-man roster.

After 77 games, including 37 in which they've scored three runs or less, it may be time to push a few of those young prospects and see what the franchise has that's worth keeping.

That might bringing up out-of-position players like Chris Shelton or Bryan LaHair and trying them on for size.

Mike Wilson has played only five games since coming off a sprained ankle? Can he be worse than Balentien?
This team, its general manager and manager have done marvelous jobs thinking outside the norm this season - and it's gotten them to the brink of the All-Star break with a 39-38 record.

It's time to start thinking again, about the second half, about next year, about letting players without a future in the organization move on.

If you're going to lose games by only scoring two runs, you can do that with almost anyone. Why not try doing better with someone else?

Ah, what a fine old month June was for the Mariners, who finished it with a 15-10 record, a 2.98 earned run average and a .270 batting average.

Not surprisingly, Ichiro Suzuki led he way - batting .407 with 44 hits. If you're counting, that's 20 times Ichiro has had 40 hits or more in a month.

How rare is that? Well, the last American League player to do it was named Lou Gehrig.

The Mariners open July with a 39-37 record, 3 1/2 games behind the Angels in the American League West.

They open against New York, Jarrod Washburn vs. Andy Pettitte.

Time for the anthem!

The first threat

Ken Griffey Jr. and Franklin Gutierez singled to open the second inning - and never moved up a base.

That's becaus Pettitte set down Wladimir Balentien, Chris Woodward and Rob Johnson in order.

No score.

First score

Johnny Damon just missed the foul pole with a long drive for a strike. On a 3-2 pitch, Washburn came vack with a fastball and Damon hit it out to right field.

It was Damon's 15th of the season, and it put the Mariners behind again. They haven't had a lead in their two games here yet.

After three: Yankees 1, Mariners 0

Tie game

Seattle came right back in the fourth inning, when Jose Lopez doubled and took third on a fly ball by Ken Griffey Jr.

Proving he cannot get out of his own way, Balentien was then picked off first base by Pettitte.

It's gone - or is it?

Melky Cabrera hit a ball that hugged the foul line all the way into the stands, then watched it called a fair ball - home run.

The Mariners argued and the play was reviewed by the umpiring crew, which returned to the field and agreed with itself - home run!

Seattle is behind again.

After five: Yankees 2, Mariners 1

Just plain gone

With two outs, Junior turned on the first pitch Pettitte threw him and hit his 10th home run of the season.

No, he's no longer a cleanup hitter - although that's what he's is tonight - but Griffey seems to be emerging from a malaise at the plate. Two hits tonight, one of them a game-tying home run.

In the sixth: Mariners 2, Yankees 2

A-Rod hits A-homer

How quickly can a game turn? Mark

Teixeira singled to open the sixth and Alex Rodriguez then hit a knee-high fastball over the fence in center field.

Game changed.

After six: Yankees 4, Mariners 2

Where's the offense?

In 77 games this year, the Mariners have scored three runs or less 37 times - and won just 10 of those games.

The numbers don't lie. If Seattle doesn't improve it's offense, well-pitched games are going to get away all too often.

With weapons like Adrian Beltre and Endy Chavez now off the table, this team needs helps.

Final score: Yankees 4, Mariners 2

This may not stun many of you, but Erik Bedard will not make a start in Boston this weekend.

On the disabled list, the lefty hasn't pitched for Seattle since June 8 - he's down with shoulder inflammation - and has been slowly working his way back.

The new Mariners time table reads like this: Bedard will pitch a simulated game in Boston on Friday before the regular game, and throw perhaps as many as 65 pitches.

Stage Two comes Tuesday at Safeco Field, when Bedard is scheduled to start against the Baltimore Orioles.

Stage Three? Bedard will start the final game before the All-Star break, a Sunday home game against Texas.