BOX SCORE

Sorry for the delay, but I had to leave the press box at Safeco and retreat back to Tacoma in search of air conditioning, which I found at the West End Pub & Grill - a one-time favorite of former Rainier and Aussie Chris Snelling.

But it was the big Aussie left-hander that stole the show today. We began the day under the idea that it could be Roy Halladay's final start as a Blue Jay - and it still may be. And if it is, Rowland-Smith and the Mariners made sure it will go down as a loss.

The Hyphen as he is called, well, for obviously reasons, pitched his best outing this season and perhaps last, throwing seven strong innings, including the first six without giving up a hit.

"He was locked in," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said.

And he worked fast - think the opposite of Garrett Olson and Miguel Batista. Rowland-Smith worked with a steady pace and rhythm.

"That's something I want to do," he said. "I've had games where I've done that. I remember Raul telling me last year one game how much the fielder loved it."

RRS would have had a perfect six innings had he not hit Kevin Millar with a pitch - which I thought looked like retaliation for Kenji Johjima getting hit with a pitch by Halladay in the top of the inning. But no hits, and not really any hard hit balls.

Rowland-Smith had joked that he would "need to throw a no-hitter to beat Halladay" before the game. And for six inning he was doing exactly that.

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I'm a little behind on the game updates because I'm kind of by myself up here. Columnist Dave Boling is here, but not to help with the leg work or the blog, so a little patience may be necessary.

First Inning
Lots of Blue Jays fans here again today. It was only 87 degrees at first pitch, but I'm thinking it will be a little higher about 3 p.m.

To note, Roy Halladay is pitching today. He got a large ovation from the Blue Jays fans when he was announced. Ryan Rowland-Smith works a perfect first, but he did leave a change-up up around the head of Adam Lind.

Halladay gave up double to Jose Lopez but gets out of the inning

Second inning
Nice quick inning for "The Hyphen"

Owwww, Kenji Johjima just got "dotted" with a 94 mph fastball from Halladay. Retaliation for the RRS high and tight, perhaps, who knows. Jack Hannahan then reaches on an air, and it appeared the M's might scratch a run across as Chris Woodward singled to left, but since Joh runs well like a catcher, he was tossed out at the plate. Halladay then struck out Michael Saunders to end the inning.

Third inning
Perhaps to prove a point for Halladay hitting Joh, RRS hits Kevin Millar (grazed him really) to start the inning. Lopez then makes a Lopez play by dropping a pop up over his shoulder and hurting his finger, but he does have the where with all to get the force at second. RRS then gets out of the inning.

Halladay give up a bunt single to Ichiro, who moves to third after a pair of outs, but Halladay breaks Griffey's bat for the second straight at-bat to end the inning.

Fourth inning
RRS - 123
The Mariners missed out on a chance to score in the fourth as Saunders has now left a small village of runners on base today.

Fifth Inning
RRS - 0 and 0
the Mariners still can't figure out Halladay. Until Jose Lopez just crushed a solo homer to left --- The Everett Herald's Kirby Arnold, who occupies the spot to the right of me in the press box, called it two pitches before, saying "Lopey's going to go yard."

Junior follows up the hit with a pretty double to right-center. But Halladay strikes out Shelton to end the inning.

Sixth inning
another hitless inning for RRS, not saying anything else

Seventh inning
Well, the no-hitter comes to an end as Aaron Hill loops a single into left for the first hit. The Safeco Field crowd gives RRS a very nice ovation. One pitch later, the shutout is gone as Adam Lind crushes a two-run homer right-center. RRS does focus up and get out of the inning but the M's are down 2-1.

The Mariners make sure that RRS is still in line to get the victory - which he deserves.

Michael SAunders and Ichiro Suzuki get a pair of infield singles to start the inning and Lopez loaded the bases with a single. Ken Griffey Jr. rips a two-run double his second in a row off of Halladay, to give Seattle a 3-2 lead.

Three runs off of Halladay, this was a team that couldn't score against Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey.

Obviously, Ronny Cedeno and Jeff Clement weren't exactly the focus of the previous days worth of trade rumors we've been hearing. No that belongs to left-handed pitcher Jarrod Washburn, who is being viewed as the consolation prize for teams that don't have or aren't willing to part with the massive amounts of players being requested in trades for Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

Though it appears, at least according to sources, one of the potential suitors for Washburn, the Milwaukee Brewers, have decided to stop pursuing him because of their recent struggles.

And there are some rumors that Lee has been dealt to the Phillies.

Looking at today's trade for Jack Wilson and Ian Snell, it may lead some to believe that GM Jack Zduriencik acquired another starting pitcher to take the place of Washburn in the rotation when he's dealth. But Zduriencik downplayed such thinking.

"It's really not related," Zduriencik said of adding Snell. "It's has nothing to do with what might happen, it has nothing to do with us getting Ian Snell. We got Ian Snell because he has a very nice arm. If we can get him back on track, he's a talented pitcher we can add to our major league club."

But while Zduriencik wouldn't say that it affected his decision with Washburn, he admitted there have been discussions about trading Washburn.

“There’s always discussions,” he said. “I don’t that I would classify it as a framework. Maybe someone else thinks there’s a framework. I’m all ears. I can’t say anything is imminent. There are people that are mentioning things, but we haven’t jumped in the fray and said hey that makes a lot of sense at this moment in time.”

But that moment in time could change very quickly as the deadline steadily approaches.

"I think because we have about 48 hours left, I think it gets intensified now, and if some other dominoes fall people may get more aggressive," Zduriencik said. "But right now, it’s been what it's been."

But Zduriencik wouldn't say he's trying to deal Washburn. He said he's listening to offers on him.

"It’s been discussions, it’s been names, but you can’t prevent that," he said. "I’m not sitting out there as someone might think that I’m shopping guys. People call me and I have to listen to what they have to say. When I get one or two or three phone calls, it’s a courtesy to call somebody back, to say he just to let you know, we are having these discussions. I don’t know if it’s going to go anywhere. I can’t sit here today and say this is going to happen. I wouldn’t do that. I don’t know that."

When asked if he would wait to see what happens with Halladay and Lee before making a decision, Zduriencik balked at such thinking.

"I don’t think I’ve ever waited for the dominoes to fall," he said. "If there is something for us that makes sense for us to be better, then we have to entertain that. Sometimes it could be the effect of somebody else coming off somebody else’s radar or it could be the fact that we sit there and look at something and say this makes sense and we move on."

Unlike other GMs this time of season, Zduriencik isn't under any desperation or things of that nature.

"I’m not saying we’re going to do anything," he said. "We’re just going to sit back and let the pieces fall where they may, and at the end of the day make the best call."

Let's just go over the two deals that we've had today, and I highly doubt GM Jack Zduriencik is done, since he's got Roy Corcoran still out there in the midst of his 10-day period after being DFA'd.

Deal #1
Mariners get: shortstop Jack Wilson and right-handed pitcher Ian Snell
Pirates get: shortstop Ronny Cedeno, catcher/first baseman Jeff Clement, right-handed pitchers Nathan Adcock, Brett Lorin, Aaron Pribanic.

Deal #2
Mariners get: Right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel
Reds get: Outfielder Wlad Balentien

One thing to note, Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pirates reporter Dejan Kovacevic is reporting that the Pirates will eat a substantial amount of salary for both of Wilson and Snell's contracts this season. He is reporting that the Mariners will only pay each player $400,000 for the rest of the season. Meaning the Pirates will pay the remaining portion of the $7.25 million that Wilson makes this season and of the $3 million Snell is to make, Kovacevic says it's $3,308,702.19

Wow, Jack Z never ceases to amaze me.

Wilson was supposed to be here around 2:30, but his flight has been delayed (stunning) but we'll try and get some reaction from him later.

So let's get to the reaction ...

Obviously all the talk was surrounding the first trade.

Ronny Cedeno was red-eyed, emotional and absolutely stunned about being traded, despite hitting just .167 this season.

"I don't have any control over it," Cedeno said. "It's baseball. It's a business. I'm really surprised."

Cedeno was notified this morning at 9 a.m.

"I'm really sad," Cedeno said. "Felix is my best friend. He and Carlos Silva are great guys and I'm going to be miss them."

Zduriencik met with the media shortly thereafter for a lengthy session.

"I would call it a relatively major trade," Zduriencik said "We've acquired shortstop Jack Wilson and right-hand pitcher Ian Snell from the Pirate organization."

Wilson is somebody the Mariners have been rumored to have been interested for quite some time and Zduriencik confirmed that.

"I've talked to them couple of months ago," Zduriencik said. "Quite frankly, probably in May the first discussions we had together. It was about a lot of different things. His name came up. We still had another shortstop here at this time.

But those talks got more intense over the last 10 days, and Zduriencik said the two teams had several conversations.

"In terms of Jack Wilson, I think what we acquire here is a very talented defensive shortstop," Zduriencik said. "He's a former All-Star player, set several records for errorless streaks. He's a feisty, gamer type of guy. I think people will like watching him play. Having been in Milwaukee the last nine years, I watched this guy against us on many occasion. Not only the kind of defensive player he is, but what he brings to the table -- he's an intelligent player, he's got a lot of smarts, he has leadership skills, he's as feisty as can be."

Beyond the feisty lies another issue, Wilson is under contract for this season with an $8.4 million club option for next season.

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Jack Z is not done yet. His phone rang about 20 times during our pregame press conference, perhaps this is a reason why.

Just received word that the Mariners have sent recently DFA'd outfielder Wladimir Balentien to the Cincinnati Reds for right-handed pitcher Robert Manuel.

From the release ...

Manuel, 26, has appeared in three games for the Reds and has not allowed a run in 4.1 innings. He was recalled from AAA Louisville on July 7 and made his Major League debut July 9 at Philadelphia (1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 SO). He was optioned back to Louisville on July 19 and recalled again on Sunday. In 36 relief appearances at Louisville, was 3-4 with 10 saves and a 2.70 ERA (14 ER, 46.2 IP).

In 2008, Manuel received a MiLB.com This Year in Baseball Award as the best reliever in the minor leagues. In 52 games split between Sarasota (A), Chattanooga (AA) and Louisville (AAA), Manuel went 6-3 with 3 saves and a 1.25 ERA (12 ER, 86.2 IP). He was originally signed by the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent in 2005 out of Sam Houston State University.

Balentien, 25, was designated for assignment on Sunday (July 26) and the club had 10 days to trade, release or outright him to the minor leagues. Balentien hit .213 (33x155) with 10 doubles, 4 home runs and 13 RBI in 56 games with the Mariners this season.

Ok, we have a deal finished.

THe Mariners have just released the trade, they've acquired SS Jack Wilson and RHP Ian Snell from the Pirates for SS Ronny Cedeno, C Jeff Clement, RHP Brett Lorin, RHP Aaron Pribanic and RHP Nathan Adcock

It's a lot of players to wade through. The first and foremost is Wilson, who the Mariners appeared to have some interest in earlier this season. GM Jack Zduriencik discussions about

Wilson is 31 and has spent his entire career with the Pirates. He has been loyal and was even considering re-signing with the team, until low-ball contract offers perhaps.

Since 2006, Wilson has the 4th-highest fielding percentage among all Major League shortstops (.980), and since his debut in 2001, he has made 1,112 starts at shortstop, 6th-most in the Majors. Wilson has a career .978 fielding percentage at shortstop, 4th-highest among active players (min. 650 G).

Wilson, a National League All-Star and Silver Slugger Award Winner in 2004, is a career .269 hitter (1158-for-4305) in 1159 career games with the Pirates since making his debut in 2001. He is hitting .267 (71-for-266) with the Pirates this season with 18 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs and 31 RBI.

Snell, 27, is 2-2, with a miniscule 0.96 ERA in six starts with AAA Indianapolis this season. He has struck out 47 in 37.1 innings. He started the season with the Pirates and was 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in 15 starts. Since making his Major League debut with Pittsburgh in 2004, Snell has compiled a 33-46, 4.75 mark in 128 games, 116 starts.

Here's Jack Z's comments from the press release.

"This was an opportunity for us to acquire a veteran shortstop, a former All-Star player, with leadership qualities and above average defensive skills. As we move forward over the next few years it is nice to know that we have solidified the shortstop position."

"We also acquired Ian Snell, a talented pitcher with Major League experience who now has an opportunity re-start his career after a very successful re-assignment in Indianapolis."

I'll have more when I get to the stadium.