Can Matt Tuiasosopo make AAA this season as third baseman?

PEORIA, Ariz. — Matt Tuiasosopo hadn't been in too many of these situations. Not as a pro baseball player, anyway.

Tuiasosopo was up at bat in a 6-5 game, in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Mariners trailing the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Two runners were on base with two out.

Tuiasosopo — yes, that family name known and respected for its athletic prowess in the Seattle area — had a chance to be a hero. He could win or tie the game and complete a four-run comeback. Mariners fans shouted his nickname from the stands.

Alas, Tuiasosopo struck out swinging against Bob Howry, a nine-year major-league veteran. The Mariners lost the spring-training game. Tuiasosopo trudged back to the dugout, gathered his things, greeted friends and posed for a photo, and headed back to the Mariners' facility.

The game didn't count for much more than experience and getting in shape. You couldn't ask for anything more than the opportunity to hit in that situation, Tuiasosopo was told as he left the stadium.

"Exactly," he said.

Seems the 21-year-old has the right attitude, whether he strikes out or gets a hit.

"I love Tui," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "He has a really high ceiling. He's got a chance to be an outstanding player."

Tuiasosopo, a former three-sport standout from Woodinville, has advanced through the Mariners' farm system every year since being drafted in the third round in June 2004. He was in Everett that summer, moved to Class A long-season Wisconsin in 2005, Class A Inland Empire and AA San Antonio in 2006 and AA West Tennessee for all of last season.

He struggled at San Antonio, hitting only .185 after a .306 average at Inland Empire. But the Mariners decided to start him at the AA level again in 2007.

"There was a little bit of concern because he hadn't hit at Double-A that it would hurt his confidence," Greg Hunter, the M's director of player development, said. "But we knew that he comes from a good family. He's a good athlete. He has a good makeup. And we thought he would persevere through it, which he did."

Tuiasosopo hit .260 after hovering around .300 most of the season and flashed a good glove, having permanently made the move to third base.

"Love third base," Tuiasosopo said. "It feels like home. I really feel like a baseball player now, whereas before I still felt like an athlete and still learning and everything. I'm still learning, but baseball's the only thing on my mind now."

Tuiasosopo was invited as a nonroster player to spring training, and is gleaning knowledge from the likes of Mariners Raul Ibanez, Adrian Beltre and Willie Bloomquist.

The next step in his upward progression is even closer to home with AAA Tacoma. If Tuiasosopo has a good spring, the organization hopes to send him there after camp.

"Hopefully I'm getting to the point where I'm ready to knock on the door and just let them know that I can play at this level," he said. "I'd love to move up again."

Tuiasosopo wears No. 78 on his uniform, not a typical major-league number but certainly one with significance. It was his father Manu's number as a defensive lineman with the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.

Tuiasosopo doesn't know for sure why he got that number, but clubhouse manager Ted Walsh used to be an attendant for the 49ers when Manu played there.

"I'm sure that had something to do with it," Tuiasosopo said.

And Tuiasosopo made up for that strikeout from a few days ago on Thursday, lashing a two-run single with two out in the top of the sixth as a pinch-hitter for Beltre. It gave the Mariners the lead in their 5-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Notes

• Beltre rejoined the team after going to Mexico because of a death in his family earlier in the week, and was in the lineup Thursday in the Mariners' win in Maryvale. But Beltre had to leave the game after five innings with a sore thumb from a ground ball off his hand. He iced it, and the injury isn't thought to be serious.

• Miguel Cairo played SS Thursday after being used at 3B in previous games. McLaren said Cairo will play in the outfield soon, "just to see what he brings."

• Felix Hernandez, throwing all fastballs in the first inning and only a few change-ups overall, went four innings, struck out five and gave up two runs (both solo home runs). They were the only two hits for the Brewers on the day, as Mariners relievers no-hit Milwaukee over five innings. "Felix was very impressive," McLaren said. "Threw strikes. Used all his pitches. Very nice outing."

• Greg Norton was the DH and knocked in three runs with a sacrifice fly and two-run home run.

• OF Jeremy Reed was scratched from Thursday's lineup and replaced by Bronson Sardinha because of a bruised right knee. He is day-to-day. Also, DH Jose Vidro will hit off a tee today and could play Saturday. RHP Miguel Batista will throw a bullpen session today and is scheduled to make his next start Sunday in a split-squad game vs. Milwaukee.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com

Seattle Milwaukee ABRHBIABRHBICairo ss 3110Weeks 2b 3111Kiger ss 1000Iribarren 2b 1000Sardinha cf 4000Cameron cf 3000Norton 1b 3113Gross cf 1000Beltre 3b 2000Fielder 1b 3000Tuiasosopo ph 2012Nelson 1b 1000LaHair dh 2010Braun lf 2111Clement ph 2000Kapler lf 1000Balentien lf 4000Hart rf 2000Morse rf 4010Nix rf 1000Burke c 2010Dillon 3b 3000Chen pr-2b 2100Hardy ss 2000Bloomquist 2b 2110Escobar ss 1000Moore c 1110LaPorta dh 3000 Kendall c 1000 Rivera c 1000Totals34585Totals29222

Seattle	000 003 020	—	5
Milwaukee	011 000 000	—	2

E — Weeks. DP — Milwaukee 1. LOB — Seattle 3, Milwaukee 1. 2B — Moore, Morse. HR — Norton, Braun, Weeks. CS — Bloomquist. SF — Norton.

Mariners	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Hernandez	4	2	2	2	0	5
Feierabend, W	2	0	0	0	0	2
Woods	1	0	0	0	0	1
White	1	0	0	0	0	0
Jimenez, S	1	0	0	0	0	1

Brewers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Sheets	3	2	0	0	0	3
Jackson, L	3	3	3	0	0	3
Turnbow	1	0	0	0	0	0
Stetter	1	2	2	2	0	2
Gagne	1	1	0	0	0	1

HBP — by Feierabend (Kendall). T — 2:11. A.