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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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July 25, 2008 6:53 PM

Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays: 07/25 game thread

Posted by Geoff Baker

It's now a 3-3 game in the ninth after J.J. Putz allowed three straight hits to open the eighth, including a leadoff double by Lyle Overbay, a single by Rod Barajas and an RBI single by Matt Stairs. Putz then got out of a serious jam with a double play ball hit to Adrian Beltre, who tagged the lead runner and threw on to first. Putz thne struck out Adam Lind to end the threat. But it was not a vintage outing by him. He's got a ways to go.

When was the last time any of you saw a team pull two pitchers in the middle of a plate appearance in the same game? Has happened to Miguel Batista and Arthur Rhodes tonight. We'll see what the deal was.

That Brewers scout was certainly here to see Rhodes. Milwaukee needs relief help and GM Doug Melvin said today that he isn't willing to pay a premium to get it. In other words, no Huston Street, no George Sherrill. But Rhodes would seem a better fit.

By the way, the M's bullpen has gotten awfully thin since this photo below was taken earlier tonight. You've got Mark Lowe left if Brandon Morrow can survive the ninth. Jamie Burke after that.

Even #174 still has some fans.

5:56 p.m.: Still a 3-2 game in the bottom of the sixth, M's in the lead and Miguel Batista on the mound. Batista loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, but Marco Scutaro lined out and Brad Wilkerson was doubled off second. John Parrish made it through five innings, allowing only the three runs. Which of these offenses is worse?

Actually, I've yet to finish typing and Batista has just been pulled with one out in the sixth and his pitch count only around 80 or so. He'd just walked Lyle Overbay and is down 2-0 in the count to Rod Barajas. Cesar Jimenez now on. Batista might be hurt again.

Interesting trade between the Yankees and Pirates tonight. No, there was no starting pitcher going anywhere, so the Jarrod Washburn thing is still on. The Milwaukee Brewers have a scout here tonight. Might be here to see Arthur Rhodes.

5:01 p.m.: It's official. Ex-Mariner John Parrish has now ticked off fans in two countries. Parrish got hit hard in the third and has spotted the M's a 3-1 lead. Adrian Beltre drove Willie Bloomquist home with a double to left and Jose Lopez added an RBI single -- extending his hitting streak to a career high 12 games.

Parrish has thrown 68 pitches in the first three innings to this lineup. Not sure if that's happened in an M's game this season. Probably has, but it would be worth checking.

Miguel Batista gave up a two-out solo homer to Matt Stairs in the second. But he now has the two-run cushion. May need it.

In fact, he does...giving a run right back to Toronto in the third on a double by Adam Lind and an RBI groundout by Joe Inglett later in the inning. So, it's a 3-2 lead he now has.

4:39 p.m.: For Mike in the comments thread bekow, #174 just doubled off the fence in left field to bring home #168 from second base. It was Kenji Johjima's first RBI in over a month. So, a 1-0 lead for Seattle as we head to the bottom of the second. Yes, John Parrish really bites. He can barely throw strikes. Yuni Betancourt actually worked the count to 2-0 off him before reverting to form and hacking away at the next three pitches.

4:15 p.m.: Looks like the real John Parrish might have finally shown up tonight. Not the one masquerading as a 1-0 pitcher with a 4.50 ERA in three starts. Maybe he was stuck at the border all this time? Parrish didn't look all that great in the first inning, giving up a single lined to center by Willie Bloomquist, then walking Raul Ibanez on four pitches. But the M's, in typical fashion, let him off the hook when Adrian Beltre swung at a 1-0 pitch (after five balls thrown in six pitches by Parrish) and grounded into a 5-4-3 double play.

Still, if you remember Parrish at all from last fall in Seattle, that double play constitued more outs than M's fans ever saw him notch. Not sure he's going to be long for this game if the M's stop hacking at every pitch.

Miguel Batista retired the side 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first.

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