M's Notebook | Batista still going strong, on track for 15 victories

OAKLAND, Calif. — An odd scene unfolded in the ninth inning Tuesday night as the Mariners took the field clinging to a one-run lead.

Mariners closer J.J. Putz was nowhere to be found.

Instead, it was situational left-hander George Sherrill who struck out the side for his second save of the season in his team's 8-7 win over the Oakland.

After the game, it was revealed that Putz has tightness in his right triceps muscle. The team's initial line was that it happened while he was playing catch Tuesday, but manager John McLaren later revealed that it occurred before Monday's game.

"It didn't loosen up, so we didn't take any chances," McLaren said. "I don't think it's anything serious with J.J., but again, his triceps was tight so we weren't taking any chances."

Putz had an elbow problem in spring training, but this is entirely unrelated and something the pitcher says he has never felt before.

"I just got here, my triceps was tight," Putz said, adding he's not overly concerned.

The save was the third of Sherrill's career, but he had five for Class AAA Tacoma in 2005.

"Outs in the ninth are never easy, but sometimes outs in the seventh and eighth are tougher than ones in the ninth," Sherrill said. "It's just a matter of remembering what I did in Tacoma."

McLaren's take

Mariners manager John McLaren says he isn't sure whether the luxury of beginning this season in charge of the dugout would have helped him do things any differently. McLaren organized and oversaw the running of spring training for Seattle as bench coach under former manager Mike Hargrove.

"I had good input into it," he said. "Mike gave me a lot of latitude, let me run with it. We had a good spring training. I was happy with it."

McLaren made it sound as if he's planning on returning next year. He mentioned flipping through the proposed 2008 schedule. Later, when discussing the struggles of maintaining consistency among players during the team's recent losing stretch, he said: "I'm sure after the season, we can talk about other things, how to be more consistent."

The Mariners have yet to confirm that McLaren and general manager Bill Bavasi will return next season. It was widely believed both would be extended until a recent 5-17 swoon that all but ended the team's playoff hopes.

"I don't want to talk about next year, to be honest with you," McLaren said. "It's way too far down the road. I want to finish strong. I want us to play good every single day and be consistent. I want us to feel good about ourselves ... and just end things on a real positive note heading home."

Notes

• The victory by Jeff Weaver on Tuesday night marked the first time since Aug. 23-24 that Seattle starters have posted consecutive wins while going at least six innings in their outings.

Weaver and Felix Hernandez each tossed six innings in victories at Texas last month before the Mariners dropped 13 of their next 14.

• Ichiro has been named a finalist for this year's Hank Aaron Award, joining four other finalists vying for the title of the American League's top offensive performer. Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees, Magglio Ordonez of the Tigers, Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels and Manny Ramirez of the Red Sox are the other finalists.

Having already assured himself of a seventh consecutive 200-hit season, Ichiro is in a heated race with Ordonez for his third batting title, having collected others in 2001 and 2004.

Ichiro entered Tuesday night's game with a .353 batting average and promptly led off with a double to center field. Ordonez went 1 for 5 in Detroit's loss to Cleveland, lowering his average to .356.

• The team expects to announce today which pitcher will start one of the games in a doubleheader next Wednesday against the Cleveland Indians. Early favorites appear to be Cha Seung Baek and Jorge Campillo after the club discussed multiple scenarios before Tuesday night's game.

For the record

Streak: W2

Home: 44-31

Road: 36-39

vs. AL West: 25-24

vs. L.A.: 4-11

vs. Oakland: 13-5

vs. Texas: 8-8

vs. AL East: 25-19

vs. AL Cent.: 21-18

vs. NL: 9-9

vs. LHP: 24-12

vs. RHP: 56-58

Day: 21-21

Night: 59-49

One-run: 25-19

Extra innings: 4-1