The Angels are in tune up mode for the post-season, looking a little ahead and not paying much attention to the Seattle Mariners of the world.

The Mariners would love to change that in the next three games, but they'll have to do it without their best lineup tonight.

No Ichiro, no Beltre, no Brayan, no Griffey.

Instead, the Mariners field their scrappy lineup the one with two Wilsons - Josh and Jack - leadoff hitter Franklin Gutierrez, cleanup hitter Mike Sweeney and left fielder Ryan Langerhans.

Luke French, meanwhile, will try to hold off a lineup in which the first six Angels are batting .300 or better.

The Mariners can win, they insist, with their game plan of pitching and defense early, a couple of runs late.

It's French vs. Joe Saunders.

Make him work

The Mariners couldn't score in the first inning, but they made Saunders work hard to stop them.

One of the prongs of the '09 Seattle offense is to make the opposing pitcher throw a lot of pitches, and with a single and two walks in the first, the Mariners got Saunders to throw 25 of them.

It may pay off later.

Trouble in the third

French gave up a single to Chone Figgins, hit Bobby Abreu and then wild-pitched both runners up a base - all with no one out.

Torii Hunter flied to right, just deep enough to get Figgins home. Vladimir Guerrero then hit one out to center field - deep enough to get two more runs in.

Juan Rivera singled and Kendry Morales doubled, and none of the balls hit in the inning was hit softly. Howie Kendrick grounded out for a fourth run.

In the third: Angels 4, Mariners 0

Outta the way, small fry

The Mariners haven't been much more than a speed bump tonight against the Angels.

Hunter doubled, Guerrero singled and Juan Rivera hit his 21st home run.
The Mariners offense? The last 10 batters in a row have gone down quietly.

Yikes!

In the fifth: Angels 7, Mariners 0

Playing through!

French was gone after five, Chris Jakubauskas worked a scoreless sixth and then walked Hunter to open the seventh.

Bad idea.

Mr. Guerrero then hit an upper deck shot into left field, his third multi-home run game of the season - and the 39th of his career.

In the seventh: Angels 9, Mariners 0

And in the end

It never got better. The Mariners never got closer, and now have not scored a run in 18 consecutive innings.

The Angels put them in their place tonight - which at the moment is 11 games back in the American League West.

Ouch.

It's a final: Angels 10, Mariners 0

Seattle comes in with a 10-game home-run hitting streak, having hit 18 homers in that span and the question is: how?

Franklin Gutierrez has 14 home runs and Jose Lopez 20. Combined, the rest of today's Mariners lineup has 19.

What's amazing is that in the last six games, the Mariners have gone 5-1 and done it without Ichiro Suzuki, without much of Ken Griffey Jr. and without Adrian Beltre.

They still don't have those three players available - and now they're without Russell Branyan.

Oh, and did we mention they're facing Zach Greinke today?

Yikes!

It's Greinke vs. Ryan Rowland-Smith and the Mariners mystey offense.

You like pitching?

Rowland-Smith has come out serious, and used just 26 pitches to set the Royals down the first two innings.
Greinke? He's hit 93 mph on the radar gun, and thrown a changeup clocked at 70 mph - both for strikes.

The Royals have one hit, an opposite-field, pop fly single. The Mariners have had two base runners: Bill Hall worked Greinke for a 3-2 walk and Kenji Johjima singled with two outs.

You get the feeling if either pitcher has a bad inning, he's going to lose on tha alone. And a bad inning today might be two runs.

First mistake loses?

Alberto Callaspo hit a fly ball to left field that Michael Saunders lost in the sun - it went over his head for a gift double - and Miguel Olivo singled Callaspo home wih one out.

If he sees it, Saunders catches the ball. Now, the Mariners are down to a Cy Young Award candidate who should probably have 18 wins already.

Rowland-Smith gave up a single and a two-out walk, then an RBI single to David DeJesus - and wild-pitched home a third run.

Yikes!

In the fifth: Royals 3, Mariners 0

Greinke rolls on

Don't look now, but Greinke has retired the last 13 Mariners and allowed just one hit in six innings.

Rowland-Smith struck out the side in seventh and has 104 pitches, so it's likely his last inning of work. If a fly ball lost in the sun is caught, this is still a scoreless pitching duel.

In the seventh: Royals 3, Mariners 0

And in the ninth

Rowland-Smith got through eight innings with 113 pitches, allowing three runs and saving the Seattle bullpen for the Angels series. Most games, he'd have been in position to win. Not today.

Shawn Kelley came in to finish the job on the Royals and did so efficiently. Then the Mariners got one last shot at Greinke.

The right-hander started the ninth with 101 pitches - and his first pitch to Saunders was a 94 mph fastball.

Saunders flied out. Franklin Gutierrez struck out. Josh Wilson grounded out.

Wow.

It's a final: Royals 3, Mariners 0

Ichiro is still out, Adrian Beltre still swollen - and you know where! - and now Russell Branyan is on the disabled list with a herniated disk.

That leaves the team with no one with 20 home runs and only one player, Jose Lopez, with more than 55 RBI.

A team that's won with pitching and defense is going to have to pitch better, defend with near perfection and somehow manage to score a run or two along the way.

It's Ian Snell vs. Gil Meche.

Need runs? No problem!

Franklin Gutierrez and Josh Wilson singled to open the first inning, but Jose Lopez popped out.

The rejuvenated Mike Sweeney - contract drive, anyone? - doubled both base runners home, his 25th and 26th RBI of the season.

Jack Hannahan doubled Sweeney home. Jack Wilson doubled Hannahan home.

After one: Mariners 4, Royals 0

KC comeback

Mitch Maier's single was the first Royals hit of the night, but John Buck followed it with his sixth home run.

Yuniesky Betancourt, a pest since Kansas City acquired him, drew a walk. David DeJesus flied out. Willie Bloomquist flied out. Billy Butler flied out.

In the third: Mariners 4, Royals 2

More runs? Just ask!

Hannahan hit his fourth home run of the season, his third as a Mariner, into the right field seats.

Ryan Langerhans singled and, with one out, Rob Johnson homered deep into the lower deck beyond left field.

After four: Mariners 7, Royals 2

Ouch!

Maier lined a ball off Snell's right arm, and while the ball bounced to first for an out, Snell went down like a soccer player kicked in the shin.

He got back up and talked his way into staying in the game.

Buck doubled, Betancourt grounded out and DeJesus flied out.

Snell has his five innings and qualifies for the win, but trainers are looking him over - and he's going to feel this one later.

Miguel Batista will replace Snell in the sixth inning.

In the fifth: Mariners 7, Royals 2

Why they're the Royals

Batista got through the sixth, then lost control in the seventh - giving up back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases.

After falling behind Buck, 3-0, Batista got a pop up, struck out Betancourt and got a ground ball to end the threat without allowing a run.

In the seventh: Mariners 7, Royals 2

Insurance, anyone?

Jose Lopez led off the eighth inning with his career-high 20th home run, good for his 79th RBI.

Sweeney, the man who cannot be stopped, singled.

Also, here's the update on Snell: His right arm is swollen and bruised, but unbroken.

After eight: Mariners 8, Royals 2

And in the ninth: duck!
Randy Messenger gave up a home run to Mark Tehan and then was chewed out on the mound by pitching coach Rick Adair.

Next pitch: Long home run for Maier.
Messenger then got two popups and a ground ball to end it.

It's a final: Mariners 8, Royals 4

The month has not been kind to Felix Hernandez, who's started five times, posted a 2.45 earned run average in 33 innings and won once.

No decisions aainst the Rays, White Sox and Tigers were followed by a loss to the Indians, and the Mariners offense has been no where to be seen for Felix.

Tonight, a new lineup with Franklin Gutierrez leading off, and the combo of Josh Wilson, Ryan Langerhans and Rob Johnson at the back end.

Six of the nine men in the lneup don't yet have 25 RBI for the season.

Pitch well, young man.

It's Felix vs. Brian Bannister.

Mariners speed!

Like all good rallies, this one began with a bunt single - from Russell Branyan!
Mike Sweeney singled behind him, and a wild pitch moved both runners up a base.

Bill Hall grounded out for an RBI, getting Sweeney to third base.

Josh Wilson tapped back to the mound, but as Bannister threw to first for the out, Sweeney broke for the plate - and his head first slide beat the tag.

After two: Mariners 2, Royals 0

One for the umps

Josh Anderson singled, then stole second base, although replays showed conclusively that Anderson was tagged out. It happens.

David DeJesus doubled Anderson home.

With DeJesus in scoring position and no one out, Felix struck out Mitch Maier, got Billy Butler on a ground ball and Mike Jacobs on a fly ball.

That's pitching.

In the third: Mariners 2, Royals 1

No hits, one run

Gutierrez walked, stole second base and took third on a wild pith. Jose Lopez grounded to third - right under the glove of Mark Teahan - and Gutierrez scored.

There's a reason the Royals have lost 78 games.

After three: Mariners 3, Royals 1

Hey, it's an offense!

The rejuvenated Sweeney, playing like he was 33 again, singled and took third base on Hall's double.

Josh-not-Jack Wilson singled both home and, though he still doesn't have 25 RBI this year, now has three tonight.

After four: Mariners 5, Royals 1

KC can score, too

Two-out single by DeJesus set up Mitch Maier's second home run - a shot into the right field seats.

In the fifth: Mariners 5, Royals 3

Branyan goes down

First baseman Branyan, the club leader in home runs wih 31, left the game in the fifth inning after 'tweaking' his back on a checked swing.

He'll be re-evaluated by the medical staff tomorrow.

Felix, meanwhile, has pitched six innings and thrown 95 pitches. It appears he'll come back for the seventh.

Sweeney strikes again!

Seattle loaded the bases on two-out singles by Hannahan and Lopez and a walk to Michael Saunders.

Sweeney - who says he likes to 'ambush pitchers before they ambush me' - worked the count full against Kyle Farnsworth, then walked to force home a run.

Felix is done for the night. On in relief: Sean White.

After seven: Mariners 6, Royals 3

And in the ninth

Sean White pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and David Aardsma took the ball in the ninth inning.
Aardsma's 31st save - the ninth highest single-season total in franchise history - preserved Felix's 13th win, and his first since Aug. 1.

That's a career high in wins for Mr. Hernandez, and the 67th of the season for the Mariners.

It's a final: Mariners 6, Royals 3

Feel free to figure this one out: Seattle is 2-3 against Kansas City this season - and hasn't even faced Zack Grienke yet!

Without Ichiro Suzuki for a fourth game in a row, the Mariners will keep Franklin Gutierrez as the leadoff hitter. He's batting an even .500 the past three nights (6-for-12) and he's drawn two walks.

Typically, however, that's led to two runs for Seattle.

As the Mariners scratch for runs, Jack Wilson has gone 1-for-12 this week, Bill Hall and Michael Saunders have gone 2-for-10 and Kenji Johjima 0-for-7.

They're all in the lineup tonight. It's Doug Fister vs. Kyle Davies.

Game of inches

The Mariners just did miss turning a double play behind Fister in the second inning, but miss it they did - and the next batter burned them.

With Mark Teahen aboard, Brayan Pena hooked a pitch down the right field line that literally brushed the wall as it cleared at the 326-foot sign.

They all count, but this was a galling inning for Fister.

In the second: Royals 2, Mariners 0

Is it the pitching?

Against the Mariners, one never knows.

The American League is batting .280 against Davies this season, but in their first three innings, Seattle has one hit - a single on which Gutierrez was thrown out trying for two bases.

Kansas City has two hits, and two runs.

The face is familiar

Yuniesky Betancourt homered on a pitch Fister would love to take back - an 88 mph fastball over the plate and up.

Yuni didn't miss it.

That's three hits for Kansas City. And three runs.

In the fifth: Royals 3, Mariners 0

Shut out no more

Russell Branyan blooped a single and got to second base on a wild pitch. Kenji Johjima singled off the bag at third, getting Branyan home.

Big inning?

With two outs, Saunders - aboard on a fielders choice - stole second base, and Gutierrez singled him in for his 53rd RBI.
Gutierrez took second base on the throw home, but he was left there.

After five: Royals 3, Mariners 2

The long ball

Two outs into the sixth, with a man on first, Fister left another pitch up and Alberto Callaspo turned it into his eighth home run of the season.

All five Kansas City runs have scored via the long all. When you can't get your pitches down, they tend to disappear.

In the sixth: Royals 5, Mariners 2

Turning point?

A walk and Bill Hall's one-out double set the scene for Russell, who then popped up to third base. Johjima struck out and the chance was gone.

So is Fister, done after six innings, replaced by Shawn Kelley.

After six: Royals 5, Mariners 2

More long ball

A two-out walk to No. 9 hitter Josh Anderson set up a two-run home run for leadoff hitter David DeJesus - his 11th.

That's four homers tonight, and they've produced all the runs the Royals have. Or need.

In the seventh: Royals 7, Mariners 2

And in the ninth

Johjima singled and Jack Wilson homered, cutting the Royals lead in home runs tonight to 4-1.

Inspired, the next three Mariners struck out.

It's a final: Royals 8, Mariners 4

By design or luck of the draw, the Seattle Mariners have faced 45 left-handed starting pitchers this season - and tonight get No. 46 in Gio Gonzalez.

So far, they're 22-23 against lefties, but they're missing Ichiro Suzuki, who is hitting .365 against them.

Who's likely to factor in tonight? Well, Franklin Gutierrez (.333) is the only man in the lineup hitting better than .300 against left-handers, unless you count Bill Hall's Mariners stats - he's 3-for-8 vs. LHP.

Those who have struggled include Jack Hannahan (.196), Mike Sweeney (.224, Russell Branyan (.224), Rob Johnson (.172), Jack Wilson (.233) and Michael Saunders (.233).

Jose Lopez has batted .283 vs. lefties, but hit only three of his 18 home runs against them.

So where will the runs come from?

In theory, it has to be a low-scoring game where the Mariners manufacture a run or two, or perhaps get a home run from someone that makes a difference.

Hoping all that happens is Luke French, who's 2-1 with a 4.43 with Seattle.

That's a rally

Hannahan drew a one-out walk which became a run when Lopez hit his 19th home run of the season into the Seattle bullpen, good for his team-leading 77th and 78th RBI.

Sweeney doubled, but was left at second.

After one: Mariners 2, Athletics 0

One weird drought

The Mariners got a two-out single from Gutierrez with Johnson on second base, but a fine hrow from Ryan Sweeney - and Johnson's speed - led to an out at the plate.

That keeps a streak going for Seattle: 40 consecutive innings in which the only Mariners runs scored have come on home runs or an error.

Think about that - not one RBI single in 40 innings ... yikes!

The Streak ends

Hannahan opened with a double but two outs later was still at second base. Hall singled up the middle to end that 40-inning stretch.

After three: Mariners 3, Athletics 0

Oakland lives

Jack Cust hit his 20th home run, a solo shot with two outs. Solo shots, you live with.

In the fourth: Mariners 3, Athletics 1

French through five

As a big-league pitcher in his first season, French has never gone more than 6 1/3 innings in any of his 10 starts.

Tonight, through five, he's allowed one run on four hits. French is spotting pitches up and down, side to side, and hasn't really been in trouble yet.

French is one of those pitchers who seems to throw the kitchen sink - anything handy.

A little cushion?

Hannahan walked and has been on base three times tonight, and Lopez doubled him to third.

Hall's one-out sacrifice fly produced an insurance run

After five: Mariners 4, Athletics 1

Where's the cushion?

Rajai Davis singled and Kurt Suzuki homered into the Oakland bullpen, and just that quickly Seattle's lead was cut to one.

Cust then crushed a ball off the Hit-It-Here Cafe, though the drive was ruled foul by umpire Mike Winters. When manager Bob Geren appealed, the umpiring crew checked the replay and ... it remained a long foul ball.

French struck Cust out, but walked Mark Ellis with his 86th pitch. That was enough for Wakamatsu, who pulled him in favor of Miguel Batista.

Batista struck out Ryan Sweeney

In the sixth: Mariners 4, Athletics 3

The old guy can hit

Lopez hit a two-out drive to left center field that was dropped for a two-base error, and Sweeney made Oakland pay for it.

In his last five games, Sweeney has nine hits, and this time his broken-bat single to left got Lopez in.

After seven: Mariners 5, Athletics 3

And in the ninth

Batista and Mark Lowe got it to the ninth inning, and that meant David Aardsma time.

The right-handed closer, who entered the game without one career save, notched No. 30 in Seattle's 66th victory.

It wasn't easy. A flare fell into left field for a single, a shattered-bat pop fly dropped into center - and suddenly there were two on and no one out.

Aardsma struck out Tommy Everidge, struck out Nomar Garciaparra and got a ground ball from Adam Kennedy.

It's a final: Mariners 5, Athletics 3

Knocked out of his last start as much by a line drive off his calf as by the Detroit Tigers, Ryan Rowland-Smith is back with a goal.

He wants to get deep into the game tonight, and he wants 100 or more pitches - something he's done only once this season. Manager Don Wakamatsu says the answer is simple: Be pitching well at No. 99 and you'll get No. 100. Struggle, and you're likely not going much further.

Ichiro is still down with a calf strain, and the rejuvenated Mike Sweeney is the designated hitter against lefty Brett Anderson

Jack Hannahan is batting second to Franklin Gutierrez's leadoff.

It's up to Rowland-Smith to set the tone, and he's seriously pumped. His calf and his ERA took a significant hit in Detroit, and he wants a third vicory tonight.

It's never easy

Kurt Suzuki doubled, Scott Hairston and Jack Cust singled - all with two out - to put Oakland up a run.

Hairston's RBI single was on an off-balance swing, way out front on a breaking pitch. Luck plays a role.

In the first: Athletics 1, Mariners 0

That makes it even

Russell Branyan's two-out solo home run - his 31st of the season - tied the game.

It was Branyan's 10th against a left-handed pitcher this year in his 154th at-bat.

After two: Mariners 1, Athletics 1

Trying to manufacture a run

Both teams have offenses that aren't known for big innings, and each has tried to make something from very little tonight.

Michael Saunders bunted for a hit in the third inning, then Oakland's Cliff Pennington bunted for one in the fifth. Neither led to a run.

This one could turn on a single swing, one of those late-inning home runs that produces a one-run win.

In the fifth: Mariners 1, Athletics 1

Almost a rally!

Gutierrez opened the sixth with a single, Hannahan singled him to second and Jose Lopez ... well, he grounded into a double play.

With Gutierrez at third, Sweeney flied out.

After six: Mariners 1, Athletics 1

Oakland's turn

After Seattle opened the sixth with two hits and failed to score, Oakland matched that - a Mark Ellis double followed by a Ryan Sweeney single to get him to third base.

With his 94th pitch, Rowland-Smith got a popup from Pennington. On his 98th, Adam Kennedy singled home the Athle5tics second run - and Rowland-Smith was pulled in favor of Sean White.

In the seventh: Athletics 2, Mariners 1

A rally - with help

Wakamatsu is not a big pinch-hitting manager, but when Gutierrez walked with one out in the eighth against right-hander Michael Wuertz, he sent Ken Griffey Jr. up for Hannahan.

With Gutierrez running, Junior struck out. Lopez stood at the plate as the Mariners co-leader in RBI with 76 - sharing it with Branyan.

Lopez didn't get an RBI, but when Kennedy bobbled his ground ball, then kicked it into short center field, Lopez was safe at first and Gutierrez scored. Lopez stole second Sweeney struck out.

After eight: Mariners 2, Athletics 2

And in the ninth

David Aardsma put the Athletics down in order in the top of the ninth, handing the game over to Bill Hall, Branyan and Kenji Johjima in the bottom half.

Hall struck out. Branyan flied out to the wall in right field. Johjima - who had struck out in each of his first three at-bats - walked on four pitches.

Jack Wilson struck out.

Extra innings!

And in the 10th

Mark Lowe put Oakland down in order in the top half, giving Seattle yet another chance to win.

Saunders fouled out. Gutierrez singled. Ryan Langerhans homered.

It's a final: Mariners 4, Athletics 2

Felix Hernandez hasn't won a game since Aug. 1, which hasn't helped his Cy Young Award candidacy - or his luck.

In his last two starts, for instance, Felix has allowed one run in 14 innings and come away with a pair of no-decisions. Even for Seattle, that's tough to do.

Today the Mariners have their left-handed slant, with Ken Griffey Jr. (.220) batting cleanup. Junior begins the day 0-for-6 this trip, and hasn't homered since Aug. 7.

Junior and Felix could use a good day.

It's Hernandez vs. Fausto Carmona.

That hurts

Grady Sizemore wound up with a triple whe left field Ryan Langerhans made a long run, had the ball hit his glove and then slammed into the wall at full speed.

Langerhans stayed in the game - his throw, from his back, on the warning track - prevented Sizemore from circling the bases for an inside-the-park homer.

Hernandez got Jamey Carroll, then Shin-Soo Choo to ground out with the infield in, then gave up Jhonny Peralta's two-out RBI single.

After one: Indians 1, Mariners 0

Not again!

Rob Johnson singled with one out and took third when Ichiro punched a hit-and-run single up the middle.

Russell Branyan, who twice failed to get runners home from third base with less than two outs Saturday , struck out again in the same situation.

Jose Lopez grounded out, stranding Johnson at third.

In the third: Indians 1, Mariners 0

Junior delivers

Mr. Griffey hit home run No. 13 this season, No. 624 for his career, over the wall in right-center field to tie the game.

In the fourth: Mariners 1, Indians 1

Peralta strikes again

He drove in the first Cleveland run with a two-out RBI single, and leading off the fourth, Peralta hit his 10th home run of the season, good for his 67th RBI.

After four: Indians 2, Mariners 1

That's a mistake

Wonder why Felix hasn't won in three weeks?

Lopez booted Peralta's one-out ground, and it sparked a big inning.

After singles by Travis Hafner and Luis Valbuena, Matt LaPorta doubled and the Indians had Hernandez on the ropes.

A sacrifice fly got a third run home, and Andy Mafrte's RBI single accounted for another.

Hernandez probably won't pitch in the seventh. He wobbled through the sixth and has 101 pitches.

Afer six: Indians 6, Mariners 1

How not to treat an ace

Behind Felix today, the Mariners went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and allowed three unearned runs.

That's a lethal combination.

The Mariners went 2-4 on the trip - Felix started twice and didn't win - and stagger home 63-61. No, it's not pretty at the moment.

It's a final: Indians 6, Mariners 1

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

Three weeks ago, it would have been hard to find a more popular guy in the Seattle clubhouse than Jarrod Washburn, who's now standing between the Mariners and their 63rd victory of the year.

Ichiro nodded before stepping into the box, then extended his hitting streak to 11 consecutive games with a double.
On the bench watching his first game in a Sattle uniform is Bill Hall, who's getting to see Don Wakamatsu baseball.

Ichiro doubled? Franklin Gutierrez bunted him over to third base - and the Tigers infield played in. Think they're expecting a low-scoring game?

It's Washburn vs. Ryan Rowland-Smith on getaway day in Detroit - always the best day of any series here.

Washburn hit Lopez with an inside fastbvall, and DH Mike Sweeney, the professional hitter, hit sacrifice fly to put Seattle ahead.

In the first: Mariners 1, Tigers 0

Frightening moment

It's raining hard in Detroit, but two outs in the Tigers first inning, Ryan Raburn hit a one-hopper off the right calf of Rowland-Smith.

Rowland-Smith, who's built like a tank and is about as tough as one, didn't go down. And after consulting with the trainer, he got the third out without a problem.

Still, something to watch as it inevitably stiffens up.

Two outs, who cares?

A two-out walk to Gutierrez set up a Mariners 'rally' - the 16th home run of the year by Jose Lopez.

That's two hits for Seatle, and three runs.

In the third: Mariners 3, Tigers 0

They all count

Catcher Kenjji Johjima, who occasionally had his issues with Washburn, hit a lazy fly ball down the left field line that just carried beyond he 345-foot mark - home run.

It wasn't crushed, but it counted just the same.

Home run No. 6 for Joh.

In the fourth: Mariners 4, Tigers 0

Tigers charge back

Detroit's lineup is full of bruisers, and they were swinging free in the fourth inning.

Raburn homered, Miguel Cabrera hit a ball 400 feet - but Gutierrez caught it - and Brandon Inge hit a solo home run.

Balls are flying, kids. Stay alert!

After four: Mariners 4, Tigers 2

The elements are in play

The rain has stopped but the wind has not, and Sweeney broke his bat on a ball that cleared the fence in left field - his fifth home run.

Russell Branyan then hit one that only a Category 5 hurricane could have stopped. Estimated at 425 feet, it was well up into the stands beyond right field, his 28th of the season.

In the sixth: Mariners 6, Tigers 2

Bring on the tarp

The rain hath returned and it is angry, my friend.

Rowland-Smith gave up a double and two walks, manager Don Wakamatsu pulled him in favor of Chris Jakubauskas - but before he could throw a warmup pitch, the umps called in the tarp.

We are in delay mode. On getaway day in Detroit. Yes, Virginia, there is a hell.

Take off the tarp!

The grounds crew here is surrounding the thing and staring at it. This may take awhile, but in theory, the game will restart again in 20 minutes or so.

A reminder: Tigers up, bottom of the sixth inning, one out and the bases loaded.

When we left you last, Jakubauskas had taken the mound in relief, but had not even warmed up when the delay was called.

That was at 2:38 p.m. (EDT). It's now 3:10 p.m. (EDT), and the crew is actually playing with the tarp. They are on pace to remove the tarp in about two days.

Tigers charge II

Jim Leyland is no fool. Given the bases-loaded, one out situation, he went for the big inning.

Pinch hitter Aubrey Huff, batting for Gerald Laird, grounded out, scoring one Tigers run. Pinch hitter Alex Avila, batting for Adam Everett, singled up the middle for two more runs.

It's now a one-run game and the Seattle bullpen needs nine more outs.

After six: Mariners 6, Tigers 5

Mr. Kelley meets the Tigers

Shawn Kelley in relief: sharp fastall, nasay slider. Three outs.

It's still a one-run game. The Mariners bullpen needs six more outs. Do they to Mark Lowe for the third game in a row in the eighth? We'll see.

In the eighth: Mariners 6, Tigers 5

Mr. Kelley II

Lowe is down, so Kelley came back for the eighth. Nursing that slim lead, he gave up a pair of singles, then a long fly ball that Gutierrez ran down with a leaping catch.

Placido Polanco blooped a ball toward left field that appeared to be a game-tying hit, but shortstop Josh-not-Jack Wilson speared it with a remarkable over the shoulder catch.

One run lead, three outs needed by the bullpen. Figure Aardsma in the ninth.

And in the ninth

'Twas Aardsma, all right.

Leyland sent pinch hitter Carlos Guillen up to hit for Marcus Thames. Aardsma jumped ahead in the count, 1-2, then lost him and walked Guillen.

Raburn fouled out. Cabrera doubled, Guillen stopping at third base. Magglio Ordonez was intentionally walked to set up a double play, loading the bases.

Brandon Inge flied out, with Guillen beating the Gutierrez throw home by bowling over Johjima to tie the game.

Gutierrez was charged with an error on a great throw, because both runners advanced when it got away from Johjima.

Clete Thomas singled, pushing home the winning run.

It's a final: Tigers 7, Mariners 6

If you're a betting type, this game might be off the boards - Detroit's Justin Verlander, a Cy Young Award candidate, against Seattle's Ian Snell, who is not.

What precisely Snell is remains a question for the Mariners, who have seen him start three times and allowed 13 runs in 13 1/3 innings.

They like his stuff, think he's a bit of a head case, and are trying to work through the issues that have plagued him over the years.

Now 27, Snell could really use a quality start - and so could the Mariners.

So far, so good, sort of

Two innings in, Snell has matched zeroes with Verlander.

Still, it's unnerving that he throws about an equal number of strikes (20) and balls (18) in two innings, and he has walked to Tigers.

Small wonder when pitching coach Rick Adair was asked two hours ago what he expected from Mr. Snell, he smiled and said: "I have absolutely no idea."

Opportunity lost

The bottom of the order did it's job, with Kenji Johjima, then Josh Wilson picking up singles.

Verlander got Ichiro on a fly ball, then struck out Russell Branyan. The Mariners don't figure to get two better shots than that.

In the third: No score.

Take that!

Rookie Michael Saunders singled with two outs, then stole second base. Josh-not-Jack Wilson singled him home with the first run of the night.

Ichiro hit his eighth home run, a shot into the stands in right field.

Mr. Snell has one thing pitchers covet even more than confidence - a lead.

In the fifth: Mariners 3, Tigers 0

Remember me?

Former Mariner Carlos Guillen, now the Detroit left fielder, hit a 3-2 pitch out for his fifth home run.

Manager Don Wakamatsu is big on giving the new guys something positive to take out of the game - and the Tigers are beginning to hit their outs hard. AFter Aubrey Huff walked, he made a move.

Snell is out after 5 2/3 innings and 98 pitches. Sean White on in relief, and Magglio Ordonez singled. Brandon Inge grounded out.

After six: Mariners 3, Tigers 1

Looks familiar ...

Eighth inning, Mariners leading 3-1, in comes Mark Lowe in relief. If that sounds familiar, it should.

Lowe entered the game with the same score, in the same inning, 24 hours ago - and lost the game, 4-3.

Tonight, he got a ground b all from Guillen, then struck out Miguel Cabrera and Huff.
Better.

Into the ninth: Mariners 3, Tigers 1

That'll do it

David Aardsma. 'nuff said. Goodnight, Detroit!

It's a final: Mariners 3, Tigers 1