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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 31, 2008 9:06 AM

Going for the sweep

Posted by Bill Reader

Well, here's the kind of season it has been for the Mariners. A win today at Cleveland would be their third in a row, which would tie for the longest streak of the season.

Ryan Rowland-Smith starts for the Mariners today against Zach Jackson, as Seattle tries to make it three straight over the Indians. The Mariners' last three-game sweep in Cleveland came in 1991, back when Jim Lefebvre was the manager. Today's game, which starts at 10 a.m., is televised on FSN.

The Mariners have won five of six, and are on pace to finish 62-100. Which brings us to ... the race for the No. 1 draft pick in 2009. The Washington Nationals are leading the way, at 51-85, followed closely by the Mariners and San Diego Padres, each at 52-83.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH? Raul Ibanez will try to add to some nice August totals today. He comes into the game hitting .398 in August, with 7 home runs and 30 RBI.

HIT PARADE: Ichiro is second in the American League in hits, with 178. Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia leads the AL with 182. Ichiro needs 22 more to reach 200 for the eighth straight season.

TODAY'S LINEUPS:

Seattle
RF Ichiro
SS Yuniesky Betancourt
LF Raul Ibanez
3B Adrian Beltre
2B Jose Lopez
CF Wladimir Balentien
C Kenji Johjima
DH Jeff Clement
1B Miguel Cairo
SP Ryan Rowland-Smith (3-2, 3.73)

Cleveland
CF Grady Sizemore
2B Jamey Carroll
1B Victor Martinez
SS Jhonny Peralta
DH Ryan Garko
LF Shin-Soo Choo
RF Franklin Gutierrez
C Kelly Shoppach
3B Andy Marte
SP Zach Jackson (0-0, 4.91)

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