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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 31, 2008 6:49 PM

Mariners at Texas Rangers: 07/31 game thread

Posted by Geoff Baker

We're through six innings and it's a 6-0 lead for the Mariners. R.A. Dickey has allowed just two hits so far. His knuckler seems to be working well, A terrible start by Texas lefty Matt Harrison, who lasted just 4 2/3 innings, gave up six runs -- four earned -- on five hits (three for extra bases) walked five batters and threw two wild-pitches. For once, the M's aren't the worst defensive squad on the field. The Rangers have looked awful. They've booted the ball around left and right. Jose Lopez has his 17-game hitting streak on the line. Needs to come through these next few innings.

They had the "Kiss Cam" going between innings and took a shot of the Mariners' bullpen. Carlos Silva leaned over and planted one square on the face of Roy Corcoran. I kid you not.

As to who takes the roster spot vacated by Arthur Rhodes, it will either be Ryan Rowland-Smith or Jared Wells. If Rowland-Smith comes up, he'll likely push R.A. Dickey to the bullpen. There's also a possibility the team could mix and match Dickey and Rowland-Smith with opponents depending on whether or not they have any kind of track record against them.

A few more things I asked Pelekoudas. I mentioned the obvious criticism he's going to be getting for pulling off only one trade today and what he'll say to answer that, given his team's poor standing and obvious need to improve.

"I'll just say that, right now, we took one step in a process we said was going to be a step-by-step process,'' Pelekoudas said. "And again, repeat that the deadline is an artificial deadline and it's going to be a systematic process of redoing this club. And there are more opportunities that lie ahead. In August, in the off-season, in spring training. It's not going to be an overnight deal to redo the club.''

5:48 p.m.: I waited to put this up because I wanted to give all of you time to dissect and analyze the day in trades and non trades. We've played three innings here in Arlington and the M's have a 4-0 lead. Ichiro has a triple and a double tonight and two runs scored in his first two at-bats. He also somehow managed not to score on an infield single hit up the first base line. Yeah, I guess that hamstring is pretty bad.

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