Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.You Oughta Know ...
The Mariners have plummeted back to reality.
Seattle lost Thursday when closer Brandon Morrow allowed three runs in the ninth inning on a pair of Texas homers. The night before, the Mariners scored a run in the top of the 11th before Morrow gave up two in the bottom of the inning.
"I don't know about shell-shocked, but those are two games we definitely could have used," reliever David Aardsma said. "To have two wins pulled away from us like that is tough, no matter who you're playing, but especially against a team in your division."
Oh, and Erik Bedard (2.53 ERA) had to be scratched from his scheduled start Saturday because of a tight right hamstring.
Once 12-6, Seattle is now 16-19. Morrow has a 9.72 ERA, Adrian Beltre is batting .227, Ken Griffey Jr. has a .212 average and the Mariners are last in the AL in walks and on-base percentage (.304).
From the Trainer's Room ...
Carlos Delgado's sore hip, which the Mets defined as an "impingement," has caused him to miss nine of the past 16 games. And the Mets are still waffling on whether to put him on the DL. Meanwhile, main set-up man J.J. Putz has a bone spur in his elbow and shortstop Jose Reyes was out last night with a sore right calf.
"The impingement can potentially cause a tear," Delgado said. "In my case, it looks OK. Right now, it's just inflammation."Numbers Game ...
Both [GM Omar] Minaya and Delgado dodged the question about surgery. The GM said this was a "DL or no DL" decision.
"We're really hoping this works and see how it is over the weekend," Delgado said. "And then if it doesn't work, I guess we have to discuss other things."
In his 90th career game, Twins reliever Craig Breslow finally got a win, as Minnesota rallied form a five-run deficit in the seventh inning to beat Detroit. It was the longest streak of winless appearances to begin a career since Tim Byrdak needed 93 games to get his first "W," in 2006.
In Their Own Words ...
"Anytime you're mired in a funk like this, there's a lot of emotion. We addressed a lot of things." – Padres manager Bud Black, who held a team meeting in Chicago after San Diego lost its 11th straight road game and for the 19th time in 23 games overall
Advance Scouting ...
The Los Angeles Angels open a series at Texas (8:05 PM ET) with a chance to boost themselves into first place in the AL West for the first time since they were 1-0. The Angels have won 12 of 16 to get within 1 1/2 games of the Rangers, who have won 10 of 12. L.A. starter Joe Saunders has won three straight starts (1.66 ERA) but is 0-3 with a 9.77 ERA in three career starts in Arlington.
