--RHP Cha Seung Baek was designated for assignment after Wednesday's game with the Mariners hoping they can get some long-relief help up in time for Thursday afternoon's game in Detroit. The bullpen has had to eat up 9 2/3 innings the last two games with the starters getting rocked, and Baek wasn't going to be able to pitch Thursday after having thrown two innings Tuesday and three innings Wednesday. For the season, he is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 10 games (one start).
--SS Yuniesky Betancourt and 1B Richie Sexson both homered against Detroit LHP Kenny Rogers. In 25 previous starts in Comerica Park as a Tiger, Rogers had only allowed three home runs to right-handed batters. --CF Ichiro Suzuki drew two walks and now has seven in his last seven games. That's an about-face for Ichiro, who had just four walks in his previous 23 games.
--RHP Felix Hernandez, who came out of his last start Sunday because of some soreness in his right calf, didn't do his usual throwing session Wednesday. He's still expected to make his start Saturday in Yankee Stadium.
--LHP Erik Bedard will be teamed with C Jamie Burke for the foreseeable future. In three pairings with Burke, Bedard is 1-0 with a 1.67 ERA. In four games with C Kenji Johjima, Bedard's numbers are 2-2 with a 6.40 ERA. Bedard is next scheduled to pitch Friday in Yankee Stadium.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2.10. The composite ERA of the Seattle bullpen in May through Sunday (14 ER in 60 innings).
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You try to make out the lineup so that the other manager will have decisions to make. But when four or five guys are struggling, it's hard to do that." - manager John McLaren.
