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Geoff Baker covers the Mariners for The Seattle Times. He provides daily coverage of the team throughout spring training, and during the season.

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April 23, 2008 5:04 PM

Game thread, 4-23, Mariners vs. Orioles

Posted by Larry Stone

Lineups

BALTIMORE

Brian Roberts 2B

Melvin Mora 3B

Nick Markakis RF

Kevin Millar 1B

Luke Scott LF

Aubrey Huff DH

Adam Jones CF

Ramon Hernandez C

Luis Hernandez SS

Daniel Cabrera P

MARINERS

Ichiro CF

Jose Lopez 2B

Raul Ibanez LF

Adrian Beltre 5

Jose Vidro DH

Richie Sexson 1B

Kenji Johjima C

Willie Bloomquist RF

Yuniesky Betancourt SS

Carlos Silva P

IUPDATE 8:47 P.M. Silva left the game with tightness in his right thigh. No way of telling if it's a big deal until after the game.

t seems like just about the whole Mariners' team is sick with either the flu, bad colds, or both. Trainer Rick Griffin said it reminded him of a stretch three years ago when a similar flu bug leveled the Mariners. It's going to happen when you're in close quarters for extended periods of time. I just hope it doesn't hit the press box.

The most interesting nugget from tonight is that manager John McLaren said before the game that Willie Bloomquist is assuming Mike Morse's platoon role in right field; ie, he will start against left-handed pitchers. It just so happens that two of them are coming up -- Adam Loewen for the Orioles tomorrow, and Dana Eveland for Oakland on Friday.

Bloomquist is playing right tonight against Daniel Cabrera (a right-hander) because Brad Wilkerson is still limited by tightness in his hamstring. It's not believed to be serious enough to put him on the disabled list, or even to sideline him beyond the next couple of days. But injury or not, I'd think that Wilkerson needs to start showing something pretty quickly.

By the way, I did a little digging, and the Mariners don't think the name of Safeco Field will be changing "in the forseeable future" despite the Safeco Corp being acquired by Liberty Mutual today. I'll have a story about it in tomorrow's Seattle Times (all you subscribers, check the news section, not sports). In fact, that's why I'm a little tardy with this blog entry. I had to chase down the naming story.

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