Sports

POSTED: Thursday, Jun. 25, 2009

BASEBALL:

Following an impressive 9-3 win over the San Diego Padres to wrap up an equally impressive 6-1 homestand, the Seattle Mariners were asked not so much about Thursday's game but about the nine games that lay ahead.

Yes, the win and the homestand were outstanding and critical in pushing the Mariners two games over .500 at 37-35. But they did so against the Arizona Diamondbacks (30-42) and the San Diego Padres (31-40) - hardly juggernauts, and they did it playing at pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

Now, things become considerably more difficult as Seattle embarks on a nine-game road trip that starts tonight in Los Angeles against the Dodgers (47-26), who have the best record in baseball. The Mariners then travel across the country to face the Yankees (40-32) in the new and hitter-friendly, pitcher-maiming Yankee Stadium. Then they wrap up the trip in Boston against the AL East-leading Red Sox (44-28), owners of the best record in the American League.

"Everybody talks about where we are going," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "But the thing I like about this club is we take every game and we try to play the best we can. We'll see how we stack up on this road trip."

Wakamatsu and most of the players shook off the idea of labeling it a "make or break" trip.

But the importance of it is not lost on them.

"Nine big games," said DH Mike Sweeney, who was 4 for 4 on Thursday. "We're going to be playing three of the best teams in baseball. Hopefully we play good ball. And it puts us in position around the All-Star break to be buyers not sellers" in the midseason trading market."

There is some debate as to whether the Mariners are already in that position since they are just 2 1/2 games out of first in the AL West.

However this trip could be the final factor in that debate. A solid trip with them winning more than half the games would mean they are still in the division mix with four key games against the rival Rangers still to come before the All-Star break. A disaster reminiscent of some of last season's trips to the East Coast, and the Mariners could be seven or eight games back when they return home on July 6.

Still, the Mariners are generally looking forward to the challenge. As competitors, they want to play the best. And these three teams fit that description.

"As a ballplayer you always want to look the giant in the eyes and take them on," Sweeney said. "We feel we're one of the best teams in baseball even if our record doesn't show it."

Outsiders may not agree with Sweeney, but the Mariners will have their chance to prove it.

"You look forward to the challenge," said reliever Mark Lowe. "This will be a good test. We'll see what we're all about."

On Thursday, the Mariners looked pretty good. They banged out 15 hits and the nine runs were the most they've scored since April 28.

Seattle set the tone early, scoring four runs off Padres starter Wade LeBlanc in the first inning.

Ichiro Suzuki led off the game with a home run to right off LeBlanc - the 29th time in his career Ichiro hit a leadoff homer. And the Mariners weren't done. Adrian Beltre singled, Sweeney doubled and Franklin Gutierrez was intentionally walked to bring up catcher Rob Johnson, who is hitting below .200. But LeBlanc left a fastball over the plate and Johnson hammered the ball into the left-center gap to clear the bases.

Four runs in the first inning felt like 40 to Mariners starter Jarrod Washburn, whose lack of run support is well documented.

"As soon as Rob got that hit, I said to myself "game over," Washburn said.

Well, it wasn't quite that easy. Washburn wasn't his sharpest and the Padres hit him hard on several occasions, but he never really got punished. His only mistake was hanging a split-finger pitch to Chase Headley in the sixth inning that Headley hit over the center field wall for a two-run homer.

But by then the Mariners had spotted Washburn another two runs on a Ronny Cedeņo suicide squeeze bunt and a mammoth solo home run from Wladimir Balentien.

San Diego make things interesting in the sixth as Mariners reliever Chris Jakubauskas struggled, giving up a leadoff homer to Edgar Gonzalez and putting two more runners on base with none out. Wakamatsu called on Mark Lowe to stop the momentum. Lowe came in and ended the rally, getting two quick outs, wisely pitching around Adrian Gonzalez and getting Kevin Kouzmanoff to fly out with the bases loaded.

"The two turning points in the game were Johnson's double early which set the tone and Lowe coming in in that situation," Wakamatsu said. "He did an outstanding job to get out of some trouble there."

Ichiro and Sweeney both finished with four hits for the day, while Beltre added three.

Yet, after the preliminary questions about the game, most were then directed to the road trip ahead. The Mariners did their best to downplay the whole thing.

But, said Washburn, "It will be a test. If we pitch well, we'll have a chance every game."

Sweeney, never at a loss for words, was a little more emphatic.

"I don't care who we are playing," he said. "If we go out and play like we did today, I'll take our chances against anyone.