News
Sweeney glad to contribute to Mariners
Seattle (72-66) at Los Angeles (81-54), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Jane Lee / Special to MLB.com
09/06/09 9:00 PM ET
OAKLAND -- Mike Sweeney knows he's no Ichiro Suzuki or Ken Griffey Jr. but -- in typical Sweeney fashion -- insists he's simply happy to share the field with the future Hall of Famers. The trio of Mariners high-profile veterans has given Seattle fans plenty to be excited about despite the team's inability to reach the postseason for the eighth straight season. And Sweeney's excitement to be a part of that is no secret. Neither is the fact he's doing just fine in Griffey's stead as The Kid nurses back a sore left knee, which has kept him out of the starting lineup recently. "Griffey is the heartbeat of this team," Sweeney said Sunday. "He's the face of this franchise. This is his team, and unfortunately he has a knee problem so my job is to fill in for the big guy." The 36-year-old designated hitter has gone above and beyond in doing so. He has hit safely in 11 of his past 14 games, batting .412 (21-for-51) with eight runs, five doubles, two homers and five RBIs. In that time span, he has raised his season average from a dismal .228 to a respectable .273. "It feels good to be playing," he admitted. "I'm sure Seattle fans would like to see Griffey out there every day, but until he comes back, I'll fill that spot and hopefully help this team win some games." The always smiling Sweeney attributes his recent boost at the plate has come courtesy help from hitting coach Alan Cockrell. "I owe a lot of my success to him," he said. "He's been awesome. He's just been helping us get prepared both mentally and physically." Before Sunday's series finale against the A's, manager Don Wakamatsu announced Griffey is doing "much better" and the swelling in his knee is "pretty much gone." The 39-year-old designated hitter was available to pinch-hit on Saturday and Sunday, and Wakamatsu hopes to get him a start on Wednesday against Angels right-hander Jered Weaver. However, that means Sweeney will likely be back in the lineup Tuesday for the first of a three-game set against division leader Los Angeles. "I'm a big believer of saying control the controllables," he said. "For me, whether or not I'm playing, I do the same routine every day so that when the opportunity does come to play, I'm ready to go." Pitching matchupSEA: RHP Felix Hernandez (14-5, 2.65 ERA)
Hernandez used his last outing to further bolster his case for the American League Cy Young Award, tossing eight shutout innings against the Angels to earn his 14th win of the season. The right-hander has won two consecutive starts after failing to pick up a win in his previous four. This will be the fourth time this season Hernandez will have faced the Angels. He allowed six earned runs to the Halos in his first outing against them this year and shut them down in his next two. Hernandez is 2-1 against them this season. LAA: LHP Scott Kazmir (8-8, 5.68 ERA)
Kazmir showed why he's a two-time All-Star in his Angels debut, striking out eight men in 6 1/3 innings and pitching out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam in the first inning despite absorbing the loss. Kazmir yielded three hits -- only one solidly struck -- and one walk, hitting a batter. The classy lefty retired 18 in a row before walking Mike Sweeney on four pitches to lead off the seventh, Sweeney scoring on Bill Hall's one-out double. Kazmir has made only one career start at Angel Stadium, yielding three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of a loss, but he's on the home side now. He's 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA in seven career outings against the Mariners. Sea Scrolls
Reliever Sean White, who hasn't appeared in a game since Aug. 28 due to shoulder soreness, will travel back to Seattle to see a doctor. "It just hasn't had any improvement in the last eight days," Wakamatsu said. "We won't know more details until they examine him." ... Michael Saunders earned his first start of the series in left field on Sunday. Wakamatsu said the rookie will likely be in the lineup again on Tuesday with the left-handed Kazmir on the mound for Los Angeles. ... According to the manager, first baseman Russell Branyan is "doing much better back home," and the team is hopeful he can rejoin them before the season's done. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• FSN On radio
• 710 ESPN Up next
• Wednesday: Mariners (Ian Snell, 6-9, 5.21) at Angels (Jered Weaver, 14-5, 3.79), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Mariners (Ryan Rowland-Smith, 3-2, 3.88) at Angels (John Lackey, 9-7, 3.74), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Friday: Mariners (Luke French, 4-5, 5.05) at Rangers (TBD), 5:05 p.m. PT
Jane Lee is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
