--INF Ronny Cedeno will wind up getting three consecutive starts this week for the first time this season. Cedeno, who missed the better part of two weeks with a hamstring injury, was at shortstop Wednesday and Thursday in place of Yuniesky Betancourt in Texas. Betancourt will be back in the lineup Friday at home against Boston, but 2B Jose Lopez is scheduled to get a day off with Cedeno subbing, manager Don Wakamatsu said.
--RHP Brandon Morrow has struggled mightily in his three games since coming off the disabled list Saturday. He saved his first game back in Minnesota only after giving up a run and loading the bases, then blew saves in Texas on Wednesday and Thursday. He's faced 15 batters and given up seven hits, including two homers, three walks and six runs. --LF Wladimir Balentien was lauded before the game Wednesday by manager Don Wakamatsu for the efforts he'd been making trying to drive the ball to the opposite field. As if to prove the manager's point, Balentien drove a double to right to bring home the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th against Texas.
BY THE NUMBERS: 26 -- Metrodome home runs by Ken Griffey Jr., including a game-tying shot in the eighth inning Sunday. That's the most for him in any road ball park.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "The test is all year, not six games." -- DH Ken Griffey Jr., on the Mariners' recently ended six-game losing streak.
