Russell Branyan's breakout first half - when he batted .280 with 24 home runs and 49 RBI - made him one of the most dangerous hitters in the Seattle lineup.

Branyan's back, and the tightness that's plagued him for more than two weeks, is ruining his second half, and his life.

In Seattle's loss to Kansas City, Branyan committed an error when a ground ball rolled between his legs.

He simply couldn't get down to field the ball - that's how bad his back has gotten. The Mariners are doing all they can to treat him, from shots to daily physical therapy.

Nothing has helped.

Since the All-Star break, Branyan is batting .172 with two home runs and 12 RBI in 64 at-bats. On the just-completed seven-game trip, he had five hits in 23 at-bats - and didn't hit a home run.

Branyan's a gamer, playing regularly for the first time in his major league career. He's trying to play through pain and both he and the Mariners know how much they need his bat.

If his back doesn't improve, it's hard to imagine Branyan not having to sit out another stretch of games, possibly from the disabled list.

Closer David Aardsma, the Mariners said today, is available in an emergency - but not really.

That lanced boil on his backside is one ugly wound (trust me, I saw it!). Imagine an open hole low and centered on your bum, then imagine pitching with it.

They didn't want to stitch it up for fear of infection, so they bandage it and clean it a couple of times a day," Aardsma said. "They don't want me to sweat while it's still open, so I don't know if they'd let me pitch tonight."

Without Aardsma, the Mariners are a bit short in the bullpen, where everyone is just a little overworked. Last night, Luke French went four innings, Miguel Batista only 2/3 of an inning and manager Don Wakamatsu had virtually everyone warm up at one point or another in what became an 11-6 victory.

"We need six innings from Jason Vargas, and I'd like seven," Wakamatsu said.

It's Vargas vs. Bruce Chen, with Jose Lopez trying to drive in a run for the eighth consecutive game.

Yikes! What a start

With Willie Bloomquist aboard on a fielders choice, Vargas centered a pitch to Billy Butler, who hit it 392 feet - well over the fence in left and off the Royals Hall of Fame beyond it.

Brayan Pena and Alberto Callaspo singled, then Mark Teahen doubled them both home on Vargas' 24th pitch of the inning.

Yuniesky Betancourt doubled Teahen home, as ex-Mariners continued to hurt the current crop.

After one: Royals 5, Mariners 0

Mr. Sweeney strikes back

Mike Sweeney hit his fourth home run of the season and the 100th of his career in Kauffman Stadium, a solo shot one out into the fourth inning.

Behind him, Adrian Beltre and Franklin Gutierrez singled, and Jack Wilson's sacrifice fly got Beltre home.

In the fourth: Royals 5, Mariners 2

Oops and oops II

Vargas had gotten through three shutout innings, then imploded for the second time tonight - with help.

Butler singled, Pena doubled and Callaspo singled for a run in quick order, then a ground ball roll through Russell Branyan's legs at first - an error that scored another run.

A ground ball got a third run home, and the Royals had pulled away.

After five: Royals 8, Mariners 2

There's your seven

Vargas gave the Mariners seven innings and saved his bullpen, but they weren't memorable innings for the lefty - and one has to wonder if his spot in the rotation is in jeopardy.

In seven innings, he allowed eight runs - seven earned.

Chris Jakubauskas pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, and there likely won't be a bottom of the ninth tonight.

It's a final: Royals 8, Mariners 2

Left-hander Erik Bedard, the soft-spoken, oft-injured pitcher, almost certainly won't throw another pitch for the Seattle Mariners.

On a one-year contract after pitching half the season last year, Bedard has made only four starts since June because of persistent pain in his left shoulder.

It's similar, Bedard said, to what he felt a year ago, when only exploratory surgery found a cyst over his rotator cuff - a cyst MRI didn't show.

Tomorrow, Bedard will undergo yet another MRI, and have it compared to one taken in June to see if there's any change.

blem was tendinitis, the past two months and all the anti-inflammatories Bedard has taken should have eased it.

The chances are strong Bedard will need another exploratory surgery, but even if he doesn't he's in no position to even throw any time soon, let alone pitch.

So the trade that brought him here will be written off as one of the worst in franchise history - two big-league players and three solid prospects for Bedard.

The issue now is, do the Mariners ask him back?

Bedard is a free agent, the price is probably going to be lower than the $7.7 million he made this year. Any team pursuing him this winter is almost certain to offer him a lower base salary with incentives for appearances.

"I hope I'm back," Bedard said. "I would really love to pitch here again."
Should the Mariners try to get some return from Bedard from that 2008 trade and bring him back?

The Mariners aren't tipping their hand, but no one in the organization is optimistic that Bedard will make another start in a Seattle uniform this year.