When the Mariners called up catcher Jeff Clement and outfielder Wladimir Balentien from Class AAA Tacoma on Wednesday, they were hoping to ignite the offense.
It hasn't been smooth. Clement came into Monday with a .214 average and Balentien was hitting .167, so batting coach Jeff Pentland had the two out for early batting practice before Monday's game. It seemed to work. Balentien had two hits, including a three-run homer, and Clement lost an extra-base hit to a nice defensive play on the part of Texas center fielder David Murphy in the fifth.
"The kids were pressing, absolutely," Pentland said. "That's what this (early work) is for. We just need them to get back to doing what they were doing. They need it to be fun again."
Balentien and Clement will probably get extra work for the duration of the current home stand.
MARINERS 7, RANGERS 3: Lefty Jarrod Washburn, who has been the victim of the worst offensive support for American League starting pitchers since the 2005 season, got seven early runs and coasted in winning for the second time this season.
Washburn allowed just two base runners in the first six innings (a single and a hit batter) but came out of the game in the seventh inning because of three consecutive hits and a slightly strained calf muscle. He's not expected to miss a start.
The Mariners got two doubles from left fielder Raul Ibanez, including a two-run double in the first, but the big blows came in the third, a solo homer from first baseman Richie Sexson and a three-run shot from rookie right fielder Wladimir Balentien.
