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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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August 13, 2008 8:27 PM

Mariners at Los Angeles Angels: 08/13 game thread

Posted by Geoff Baker

Raul Ibanez just tagged Ervin Santana for a solo homer to lead off the sixth, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Was this Ibanez's parting shot as a Mariner?

Felix Hernandez has gotten through the past two innings rather easily and is one frame away from a "quality start" beginning the sixth at 79 pitches.

By the way, R.A. Dickey is likely out of the rotation the rest of the season. He's been scratched from Sunday's scheduled start. The M's are remaining mum on who will replace him. My guess is Ryan Feierabend will be called up from Class AAA. Miguel Batista is sore, so it won't be him. It won't be Jake Woods, who the M's consider strictly bullpen material. And manager Jim Riggleman says the team wants to look at some more guys before the season ends.

Sounds like Feierabend to me. By the way, to answer cesame in the comments thread, Feierabend threw only 2 1/3 innings and 53 pitches tonight. Then, he was pulled early. It was like a bullpen session. He can go again on Sunday.

Below, a shot of Dickey, telling it all to good buddy Mark Teixeira.

7:59 p.m.: Felix Hernandez just served up a two-run homer to Mark Teixeira (pictured above) in the third inning and trails 3-1. It was Teixeira's third long ball since coming over from Atlanta in that trade deadline deal. He's really transformed this Angels offense. One reason Seattle began tonight 30 1/2 games out of first place. The other reason? The M's stink.

Now that we've got that out of the way, Hernandez's line drive and flyball rate must be taking a beating tonight. He's allowed eight baserunners in three innings. No signs of the economical pitcher from last week. Time to give up on him? Nah, didn't think so. It's only one outing. Besides, he's only three innings away from a "quality start". And, as Resin mentioned in the comments thread, he did pitch out of further trouble in that first inning.

7:28 p.m.: We're tied 1-1 heading to the second inning. Seattle opened the scoring off Ervin Santana, with Jeremy Reed doubling and then scoring on a two-out single by Adrian Beltre.

But the Angels tied it up on consecutive singles by Maicer Izturis, Mark Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero. An error and a walk loaded the bases with one out, but Felix Hernandez escaped the jam on a 4-6-3 double-play grounder by Garret Anderson.

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