SEATTLE -- Richie Sexson's leg problem has not only eliminated him from making contributions during this final month, but for most of the second half.

The tendinitis in his left hamstring, which was diagnosed this week, may have been lingering since July. It has robbed him of his power.

Batting instructor Jeff Pentland said it was apparent to him that Sexson had a problem with his swing during flip drills at midseason.

"When I'd flip the ball low, which is the ones he really had to go down and get, he couldn't fire his hips and rotate his legs, which is where all the torque and power is," Pentland said. "I don't know exactly when he first noticed it, but he obviously has had some problems for quite a while, and it got worse in August where I could actually see it.

"Power comes from the core of your body, and when you can't bend your knees to go down, it puts stress on the hip area. What was happening with Richie was the pain was shooting down his leg into his hamstring. He couldn't finish off his swing. He could make contact, but it was ground-ball contact."

Sexson hit 15 home runs with 48 RBIs before the All-Star break, but has had just six home runs since. Sexson said he started working on the leg with trainer Rick Griffin in July, but it got progressively worse.

"It has been bothering me for a while, but things bother you over the course of a year and you work your way through it," Sexson said. "Not everybody has to understand everything. I have done well before at 75 or 80 percent. It started to affect me. I had no power. I couldn't turn on my front side, my front leg."

Sexson missed seven straight games during the past road trip then played one game before sitting out all this week. The medical staff wants him to rest the leg for at least another week before he'll be allowed to resume playing.

"I'm going to try to play again. I'm not going to give up," Sexson said. "I want to get back and play if I am allowed to. I haven't ruled it out."

No rotation changes ... yet: Despite two games this week in which Mariners' starters couldn't get out of the second inning, manager John McLaren said he's not ready to make a rotation change.

He will give Horacio Ramirez the ball Saturday night despite his struggles Monday against Oakland. He went just 1 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on four hits. He threw just 44 pitches.

Then Thursday, Jeff Weaver had almost identical numbers. He went 1 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on six hits. He threw just 45 pitches.

"I'm not taking Weaver out. At one time, he was an innings-pitcher for us, and he was a winning pitcher for us," McLaren said. "We know he's capable of doing it.

"I don't know if it's a confidence thing. He's not attacking the strike zone like he was. We're going to stay with him."

McLaren warned, however, "we're not quite as patient and we were earlier in the season," saying that with the September callups, there are more bodies to throw into the fray.

"[Ryan] Rowland-Smith threw ball well [Thursday]. I haven't seen [Jorge] Campillo that much, but he threw the ball well the other night. [Ryan] Feierabend had a good outing. So the guys that have been coming in long have done a good job.

"We try to give everyone a look to see what they might have."

Staff awards: The Mariners recognized and rewarded their own baseball personnel Friday night with the 2007 Staff Awards for scouting and player development. Steve Jongewaard, Wayne Norton, Chris Pelekoudas and Scott Budner were honored in a pregame ceremony.

Jongewaard was named Amateur Scout of the Year, Norton was named International Scout of the Year, Pelekoudas was selected Professional Scout of the Year and Budner was named Player Development Staff Member of the Year.

Aussie's first win: It was a surprise victory for not only the Mariners on Friday night, but also for Rowland-Smith. He was the pitcher of record after the Mariners rallied for five eighth-inning runs in an 8-7 victory over Tampa.

He said his mother back in Newcastle, Australia, "was all pumped watching it on MLB.com." His sister Rhiannon happened to be at Safeco Field to watch it.

A lot of his friends and family Down Under were happy for him, but they weren't necessarily sure why.

"No one really knows what a win means," Rowland-Smith said. "They don't understand the rules and regulations."

The game ball had to be retrieved from a young fan after J.J. Putz mistakenly tossed it to him after the game. Rowland-Smith hasn't decided what to do with it yet, but may give it to his old Minor League pitching coach Brad Holman.

Rowland-Smith is the sixth Mariners pitcher to win their first game this season. The other are Sean Green, Sean White, Brandon Morrow, Eric O'Flaherty and Feierabend.

Hargrove returns: Former Mariners manager Mike Hargrove has taken a job at the manager of a semi-pro summer baseball team in Liberal, Kan. It's the same team Hargrove played for in 1972 before launching his big league career.

"That's very refreshing," said McLaren, who replaced Hargrove on July 2. "I think he's going back to where it all started. I know he's still got a love for the game. Not far from his hometown. I really think it's kind of neat. I plan on calling him and congratulating him and talking to him about it. I think it's pretty cool."

On deck: The third game in this four-game series with Tampa Bay will be Saturday night with Ramirez (8-6, 6.80 ERA) taking the mound against lefty Scott Kazmir (12-8, 3.65 ERA) at 6:05 p.m. PT.