The Mariners will be digging into their minor league system for the third time in less than a week Wednesday in an effort to come up with some pitching.
Reliever Shawn Kelley, a rookie who'd debuted with a 1-1 record and 1.54 ERA in the first four weeks of the season, collapsed on the mound during the 10th inning of the club's 7-2 10-inning loss to Texas. He was helped off the field and diagnosed with a strained left oblique muscle. The Mariners are certain that Kelley, who did not fly with the club after the game to Kansas City, will have to go on the disabled list.
Manager Don Wakamatsu, general manager Jack Zduriencik and their respective staffs joined heads after the game to discuss the club's options.
Already the Mariners have called up right-hander Denny Stark (Saturday) and left-hander Jason Vargas (Friday) in recent days to stem the tide of injuries that has slowed the bullpen of the American League West leaders.
Kelley, who was given some pain medication after the injury, was not available to discuss the injury, but Wakamatsu suggested that two weeks on the disabled list might not be enough time for the healing process.
"All signs are that this will take some time," the manager said. "It's tough for him, because he'd gotten off to such a great start. For us, it's really going to cut into our depth in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings."
RANGERS 7, MARINERS 2 (10 innings): Texas scored six times in the 10th inning, the final four coming on C Jarrod Saltalamacchia's second career grand slam, as the Rangers completed a two-game sweep in Safeco Field and cut the Mariners' lead in the American League West to one-half game.
RHP Shawn Kelley started the 10th inning for Seattle but was forced out of the game after just three pitches because of a strained left oblique. He was replaced by RHP Denny Stark, who got two quick flyball outs.
The inning disintegrated from there, however, with the Rangers getting four consecutive singles for two runs, including RBI hits by CF Marlon Byrd and RF Nelson Cruz, before Saltalamacchia put the game out of reach with his homer.
Seattle had just one hit in the first eight innings against RHP Vincente Padilla, a two-out single in the fifth by LF Wladimir Balentien, and the Mariners' only run off Padilla was the result of a hit batter, a walk and an error by 2B Ian Kinsler in the seventh.
That run put the Mariners ahead 1-0 for LHP Erik Bedard, but the starter gave up a solo homer to Cruz with one out in the seventh to get the Rangers even.
