--C Kenji Johjima's unexpected steal of third base Tuesday -- the Red Sox were so surprised they didn't throw -- was unexpected in the Seattle dugout, too. Although Johjima thought he saw a green light, manager John McLaren hadn't given one, and he said he was stunned to see Johjima take off. It was the first steal of third for Johjima in his two-plus years in the major leagues.
--1B Richie Sexson got another day off with manager John McLaren opting to go with INF Miguel Cairo against Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Sexson was 3-for-17 for his career against Wakefield while Cairo, who went 1-for-4, was only a little better, coming in at 4-for-18. --SS Yuniesky Betancourt, whose solo homer in the third inning Wednesday against Boston RHP Tim Wakefield stood as the game-winning run, also had a single and has now had four multiple-hit games in his last five starts. That surge has pushed his average up to .285.
--2B Jose Lopez picked up a grounder hit by Boston 1B Sean Casey with his glove behind second base and flipped it to SS Yuniesky Betancourt, who got the double play going in the fourth inning Wednesday. "I practice that every day," Lopez said. "You have to practice throwing to the bag, not throwing to Yuni."
--Manager John McLaren moved his lineup around once again, moving 2B Jose Lopez to fifth, 3B Adrian Beltre to sixth and RF Wladimir Balentien to seventh. It's the 15th different lineup for Seattle in the past 17 games.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Seattle pitching allowed nine runs or more in five straight games Tuesday through Saturday. That's the second longest such streak in Seattle history.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm a tough guy. I feel I'm at my best with my back to the wall." -- Manager John McLaren.
