The Mariners saw the Indians about a month ago, but this isn't the same Cleveland team that one was.

Now 52-68, these Indians are without Victor Martinez and have largely rebuilt their pitching staff. Put simply, they're going young.

Seattle is starting Luke French, who's coming off a game in which he didn't allow an earned run is six innings and still lost to the New York Yankees.

Against lefty David Huff, manager Don Wakamatsu is starting is right-handed lineup, which features DH Mike Sweeney and LF Bill Hall.

Rob Johnson will catch because, after his home plate collision yesterday in Detroit, Kenji Johjima is having trouble turning his head to the left.

It's French vs. Huff, with the Mariners looking for win No. 63, which they thought they had locked up in Detroit - twice.

Nice trade, Jack!

If the season ended this minute, Hall would be hitting 1.000 as a Mariner with one at-bat and one RBI.

The Mariners, however, must wonder how it's possible to get three walks - and Hall's hard-hit RBI single - and come out of an inning with one run.

It wasn't easy. Jack Hannahan lined into a double play, Josh Wilson popped up.

In the second: Mariners 1, Indians 0.

And we're even

French issued a leadoff walk, got two quick outs and then gave up back-to-back singles, with Andy Marte's driving in the tying run.

Walks. Managers hate them. Lou Piniella called meetings every time one of his pitchers walked too many in a game.

Did it work? Of course not.

After two: Mariners 1, Indians 1

Think up the middle

One out, ground-ball-to-center-field singles by Franklin Gutierrez, Jose Lopez and Mike Sweeney produced the go-ahead run, and Russell Branyan walked to load the bases.

Hall kept his average at 1.000 - but now has two RBI - after a sacrifice fly put Seattle ahead.

In the third: Mariners 3, Indians 1

That Wilson kid!

Josh-not-Jack Wilson struck again - his third home run in eight days, after having hit two in his 149 big-league games. Go figure.

Ichiro doubled, chasing Huff. Gutierrez singled him home - and Jose Lopez homered, his 17th of the season.

In the fourth: Mariners 7, Indians 1

Another early exit?

Already this week, the Mariners have had to pull Felix Hernandez (strained calf) and Ryan Rowland-Smith (bruised calf) from games because of minor injuries.

Now, French has thrown 83 pitches in five innings and wobbled badly in the fifth inning - which means six innings is about what Seattle is going to get tonight.

More work for a weary bullpen, one that's without David Aardsma and Chris Jakubauskas tonight.

After five: Mariners 7, Indians 2

Mr. Branyan steps up

French has thrown 100 pitches and been in trouble each of the last two innings. He's probably done.

Branyan pushed the Mariners lead to five runs again with his 29th home run and second in two days. Hall followed with a double, his second hit in three official Seattle at-bats.

In the seventh: Mariners 8, Indians 3

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Indians creep closer

Miguel Batista in, and the Indians treated him rudely, scoring on a single and double.

If he can limit the damage, the Mariners would love to give Batista at least two innings of work.

We'll see.

After seven: Mariners 8, Indians 4

And in the ninth ...

Mariners added on in their half when Gutierrez opened with his third hit and stole his ninth base. Singles by Sweeney and Branyan - RBI No. 73 - got Gutierrez in.

Sean White in to finish it.

In the ninth: Mariners 9, Indians 4

That's No. 63!

White finished it quietly, and the Mariners are now 63-59 and 6 1/2 games out in the wild card race with three teams to catch.

Will it happen? No. Is it fun to think about on Aug. 21. Oh, yeah!

It's a final: Mariners 9, Indians

If you don't read Jim Caple, you should - he's one of the Northwest's own writing treasures.

Mr. Caple has wit and a good humor that's never mean-spirited, along with a journalistic curiosity that makes him ask the right questions.

He's done a piece on Adrian Beltre and his stunning stance of never wearing a protective cup while playing third base. You can read it here, along with a discussion on just why most men - and all ball players - see getting hit where Mr. Beltre was hit is hilarious.

On another front, tonight's starting left fielder for your Seattle Mariners, Bill Hall has taken early batting practice and hammered pitching coach Rick Adair's offerings.

Quick scouting report - based on two entire rounds of BP: Mr. Hall has power from the left field line to straightaway center, and never hit a ball to the right of second base.

He hit hard line drives to left and center field, and when he was done hitting, began taking fly balls in left field. That likely means he could get at-bats platooning with the left-handed hitting outfielder Michael Saunders or the left-handed hitting Jack Hannahan at third base.

Tonight, left field. Tomorrow night, Hall will likely start at third base.