Marinershome.com | Seattle Mariners News, mariners Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div> --SS Yuniesky Betancourt was on the bench for two games, in part for inconsistencies on defense and in part because he wouldn't heed advice to work the count more. Returned to the lineup Friday, Betancourt did exactly what was asked. He looked at pitch after pitch -- 10 pitches in all in the first two at-bats, and didn't swing at any of them. The result was walks in consecutive at-bats for the first time this year -- he'd only walked twice all season to that point and has only five two-walk games in his career. However, he also committed an error that allowed a run to score.</div>--RHP Brandon Morrow has, at least for the moment, lost his job as the team's closer. Morrow blew a one-run lead in the 11th inning in Texas Wednesday, then came back Thursday and blew a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. RHP David Aardsma will probably do most of the closing, but RHP Mark Lowe and RHP Miguel Batista could get some duty, too. Morrow, who just came back last Saturday from a stint on the disabled list (right biceps tendinitis), needs to get his arm stretched out, so the club will look for two-inning stints mid-game when possible. --LHP Erik Bedard will be skipped in Saturday's start against the Red Sox in favor of LHP Garrett Olson. Bedard, who has some hamstring pain, is only expected to miss one start and should be ready to go Thursday in the series finale against the Angels. Olson, who is 10-13 in his career, mostly with the Orioles, is 0-4 career against the Red Sox. --CF Franklin Gutierrez had gone 29 at-bats -- including two strikeouts earlier in the game against Boston LHP Jon Lester -- before delivering a two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning Friday night. It was a single with runners on second and third, the first hit the Mariners had with a man in scoring position after being 0-for-10 to that point in the game. --LF Wladimir Balentien might be in the midst of winning a spot as a regular. He doubled in the fourth inning and has now had a double in three consecutive games and four times in the last five games. In the process, he's got his batting average close to .300 while giving power-starved Seattle a little more offensive sock. His playing time has come at the expense of LF Endy Chavez, who had a great April (.305) but who is averaging .167 in May. He missed no starts in April but has been on the bench five times in May, including the last three games in succession. --RHP David Aardsma is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season. He has not allowed a run in his last seven games (7.1 innings) and has been scored upon in just two of 17 games all season in lowering his ERA to 1.53, the best on the Seattle staff. MEDICAL WATCH: LHP Erik Bedard (hamstring tightness) will miss his May 16 start but is expected to be able to make his May 21 outing. 1B/DH Mike Sweeney (back spasms) did not play May 10-13. He returned to the lineup May 14. RHP Carlos Silva (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 7. RHP Shawn Kelley (strained left oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list May 6. He could miss at least one month. RHP Roy Corcoran (strained neck) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29. LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (left triceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 11. He threw a bullpen session May 5. He is scheduled for a simulated game during the week of May 11-17, after which he might start a rehab assignment. LHP Cesar Jimenez (left biceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 29. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Tacoma on April 24. LHP Ryan Feierabend (Tommy John elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list March 16. LHP Tyler Johnson (left shoulder surgery in May 2008) started the season in the minors. He might start a rehab assignment with Class AAA Tacoma by mid-May. RHP Chad Cordero (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) signed a minor league deal with the Mariners during the spring, and he wasn't ready for opening day. He was throwing in extended spring training in early May. ROTATION: RHP Felix Hernandez LHP Erik Bedard LHP Jarrod Washburn RHP Chris Jakubauskas LHP Jason Vargas BULLPEN: RHP Brandon Morrow RHP David Aardsma RHP Miguel Batista RHP Mark Lowe RHP Sean White RHP Denny Stark LHP Garrett Olson CATCHERS: Kenji Johjima Rob Johnson INFIELDERS: 1B Russell Branyan 2B Jose Lopez SS Yuniesky Betancourt 3B Adrian Beltre INF Mike Sweeney INF Ronny Cedeno OUTFIELDERS: LF Endy Chavez CF Franklin Gutierrez RF Ichiro Suzuki DH Ken Griffey Jr. OF Wladimir Balentien

--SS Yuniesky Betancourt was on the bench for two games, in part for inconsistencies on defense and in part because he wouldn't heed advice to work the count more. Returned to the lineup Friday, Betancourt did exactly what was asked. He looked at pitch after pitch -- 10 pitches in all in the first two at-bats, and didn't swing at any of them. The result was walks in consecutive at-bats for the first time this year -- he'd only walked twice all season to that point and has only five two-walk games in his career. However, he also committed an error that allowed a run to score.

--RHP Brandon Morrow has, at least for the moment, lost his job as the team's closer. Morrow blew a one-run lead in the 11th inning in Texas Wednesday, then came back Thursday and blew a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. RHP David Aardsma will probably do most of the closing, but RHP Mark Lowe and RHP Miguel Batista could get some duty, too. Morrow, who just came back last Saturday from a stint on the disabled list (right biceps tendinitis), needs to get his arm stretched out, so the club will look for two-inning stints mid-game when possible.

--LHP Erik Bedard will be skipped in Saturday's start against the Red Sox in favor of LHP Garrett Olson. Bedard, who has some hamstring pain, is only expected to miss one start and should be ready to go Thursday in the series finale against the Angels. Olson, who is 10-13 in his career, mostly with the Orioles, is 0-4 career against the Red Sox.

--CF Franklin Gutierrez had gone 29 at-bats -- including two strikeouts earlier in the game against Boston LHP Jon Lester -- before delivering a two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning Friday night. It was a single with runners on second and third, the first hit the Mariners had with a man in scoring position after being 0-for-10 to that point in the game.

--LF Wladimir Balentien might be in the midst of winning a spot as a regular. He doubled in the fourth inning and has now had a double in three consecutive games and four times in the last five games. In the process, he's got his batting average close to .300 while giving power-starved Seattle a little more offensive sock. His playing time has come at the expense of LF Endy Chavez, who had a great April (.305) but who is averaging .167 in May. He missed no starts in April but has been on the bench five times in May, including the last three games in succession.

--RHP David Aardsma is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season. He has not allowed a run in his last seven games (7.1 innings) and has been scored upon in just two of 17 games all season in lowering his ERA to 1.53, the best on the Seattle staff.

MEDICAL WATCH:

LHP Erik Bedard (hamstring tightness) will miss his May 16 start but is expected to be able to make his May 21 outing.

1B/DH Mike Sweeney (back spasms) did not play May 10-13. He returned to the lineup May 14.

RHP Carlos Silva (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 7.

RHP Shawn Kelley (strained left oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list May 6. He could miss at least one month.

RHP Roy Corcoran (strained neck) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29.

LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (left triceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 11. He threw a bullpen session May 5. He is scheduled for a simulated game during the week of May 11-17, after which he might start a rehab assignment.

LHP Cesar Jimenez (left biceps tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 29. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Tacoma on April 24.

LHP Ryan Feierabend (Tommy John elbow surgery in March 2009) went on the 60-day disabled list March 16.

LHP Tyler Johnson (left shoulder surgery in May 2008) started the season in the minors. He might start a rehab assignment with Class AAA Tacoma by mid-May.

RHP Chad Cordero (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) signed a minor league deal with the Mariners during the spring, and he wasn't ready for opening day. He was throwing in extended spring training in early May.

ROTATION:

RHP Felix Hernandez

LHP Erik Bedard

LHP Jarrod Washburn

RHP Chris Jakubauskas

LHP Jason Vargas

BULLPEN:

RHP Brandon Morrow

RHP David Aardsma

RHP Miguel Batista

RHP Mark Lowe

RHP Sean White

RHP Denny Stark

LHP Garrett Olson

CATCHERS:

Kenji Johjima

Rob Johnson

INFIELDERS:

1B Russell Branyan

2B Jose Lopez

SS Yuniesky Betancourt

3B Adrian Beltre

INF Mike Sweeney

INF Ronny Cedeno

OUTFIELDERS:

LF Endy Chavez

CF Franklin Gutierrez

RF Ichiro Suzuki

DH Ken Griffey Jr.

OF Wladimir Balentien