--RF Ichiro Suzuki not only continued his surge toward an eighth consecutive 200-hit season, but he also is gaining ground in the American League batting race. Suzuki's 3-for-4 game gave him a .315 average, pulling him within eight points of Twins C Joe Mauer, the AL leader. Suzuki took over the AL hits lead with 169, two ahead of Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia.
--RHP Carlos Silva, on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 16 because of elbow tendinitis, threw off flat ground without pain Thursday and appears on track to be activated when he's eligible. He will throw off flat ground at least two more times, then have two sessions off the bullpen mound. --LHP Erik Bedard, whose throwing program was halted early this week when discomfort returned to his left shoulder, is expected to play catch again this weekend. Manager Jim Riggleman wasn't hopeful Bedard, on the disabled list since July 5, would pitch again this season. "I want him to," Riggleman said. "I don't know how much pain is in there, how much better he's feeling. I think Erik is the only one who can answer that, and unfortunately he's not talking."
--OF Mike Morse, on the disabled list since April 14 because of a separated left shoulder, has been hitting and fielding in pregame drills. He won't play the rest of this season and will go to the Mariners' Instructional League camp in Arizona when it begins Sept. 15.
--Manager Jim Riggleman, whose team suffered its 81st loss Thursday, on how badly he wants to avoid 100 losses: "I certainly don't want to lose 100 games, but I don't want to lose 99, either. That's not something to be proud of."
--LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith began a string of three consecutive left-handed starters scheduled against the A's. With Ryan Feierabend to pitch Friday and Jarrod Washburn on Saturday, it would be the fourth time since 1999 that lefties had started three consecutive games for the Mariners.
--LHP Ryan Feierabend will get a chance to show the Mariners he belongs in their plans for 2009 when he starts Friday against the A's. It will be Feierabend's second start since being called up from Class AAA Tacoma after RHP Carlos Silva went on the 15-day disabled list. Feierabend's 2008 debut was dismal Sunday at Minnesota (six runs in three innings). Feierabend was pitching on only three days of rest.
BY THE NUMBERS: 3 -- The Mariners scored three runs Friday, all without the benefit of an RBI. It was only the second time in club history the team had scored three or more runs without the benefit of an RBI. Two runs scored on a Twins' throwing error and the other on a double play grounder.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "There's been five weeks' worth of games just like that." -- Manager Jim Riggleman, after Saturday's bottom-of-the-ninth loss to Minnesota.
Play FOX Fantasy Football Today >
