Mariners almost set in bullpen

SURPRISE, Ariz. — A fuzzy bullpen picture began to clear up even before the first Mariners workout of the day.

That's when right-handed reliever Chris Reitsma and southpaw Arthur Rhodes were called into some early morning meetings and told they had no chance of making the team. The picture became even more clear by the ninth inning of an 8-5 win by the Mariners over the Kansas City Royals later in the afternoon.

It was in that final frame that relief pitcher Mark Lowe, making a comeback from elbow surgery just like Reitsma and Rhodes, fired consecutive pitches at 95 mph and then another at 96 mph to finish off the game's final hitter on a pop fly to right. For Lowe, who retired three straight hitters after surrendering a leadoff double, the return to mid-90s velocity and the ability to control it has almost certainly landed him a spot on this team.

"That's kind of the whole idea of spring training," Lowe said. "You want to work your way up and then kind of ease into the season if you can."

Lowe has certainly done that, throwing back-to-back games for the first time all spring earlier this week. He hadn't done that since August 2006, when a chondral defect in his right elbow helped sink a brilliant start to his major league career.

It's taken roughly 18 months for Lowe to fully recover from the surgery to repair that defect. A year ago, in spring training, he underwent more surgery to loosen up scar tissue preventing his elbow from fully extending.

Mariners manager John McLaren won't officially confirm that Lowe is on the team. But with eighth-inning set-up man Brandon Morrow still working his way back from a sore shoulder, the Mariners need all the mid-90s arms they can get in their bullpen.

"He was impressive; he's shown us that he's recovered," McLaren said. "He's thrown back-to-back. I like what I've seen of him. He's throwing the ball well."

McLaren liked what he'd seen from Rhodes and Reitsma as well. But both are not as far along after their surgeries and the team wants them to continue their throwing programs in the minors.

Rhodes has agreed to stay with the team and do that. His departure means Ryan Rowland-Smith will likely head north with the Mariners as the second bullpen lefty, though that has yet to be confirmed.

Reitsma packed his things and left the team, saying he wanted to ponder his future. Both Rhodes and Reitsma are on Class AAA contracts and must either report to the minors or retire.

The team could also grant either player their release if asked, but is under no obligation to do so.

So long, Arizona

Mariners starter Erik Bedard is happy to be leaving Arizona. Whether it's the thin air, poor pitch selection, or a little of both, Bedard did not look impressive this spring except for providing some highlight reel home runs for fans to look at.

Two more long balls off Bedard on Wednesday — including an inside-the-park blast by Jason Smith on a rocket to center field — left him with nine home runs allowed over just 24 innings of Cactus League action.

Wild and Willie

Willie Bloomquist returned to Cactus League action for the first time in two weeks after nursing a tight quadriceps muscle. Bloomquist looked rusty in the field and didn't help pitcher Bedard out by failing to come down with a pair of fly balls to center that turned into an inside-the-park home run by Smith and a triple by Ryan Shealy.

Triunfel dazzles

The Mariners were treated to an advance look at 18-year-old shortstop prospect Carlos Triunfel, who replaced Yuniesky Betancourt in the sixth inning and made a dazzling defensive play right off the bat. The inning's first batter, Mark Teahen, hit a ball that seemed headed into center field.

But it struck the second base bag and popped in the air. Triunfel had been ranging to his left, snagged the ball and made a cannon throw to first base while off balance to nab Teahen.

Notes

• Mariners left-hander Ryan Feirabend was optioned to Class AAA Tacoma before the game. The Mariners have also told infielder Tug Hulett and pitcher Roy Corcoran that they will not make the team and will be sent to the minors shortly, once other roster moves are complete.

• The Mariners complete the Peoria portion of spring training today, with most of the team leaving at noon for a flight to San Francisco and a game against the Giants. Felix Hernandez will remain and join a team of mostly minor-leaguers in taking on the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium.

Wednesday's box score

Seattle						Kansas City
	AB	R	H	BI			AB	R	H	BI
Bloomqst cf-lf	5	1	1	0		Gathright cf	2	0	0	0
Lopez 2b	4	1	2	0		Maier cf	3	0	0	0
Hulett pr-2b	1	1	0	0		Grdzielanek 2b	4	0	1	0
Vidro dh	5	1	1	1		Berroa pr-2b	1	0	0	0
Sexson 1b	3	1	1	1		Teahen lf-3b	3	0	1	0
Cairo 3b	1	0	0	0		Guillen rf	2	0	0	0
Wilkerson rf	3	1	1	3		Shealy 1b	2	0	1	0
Johjima c	4	1	1	0		Butler dh	3	2	2	0
Reed lf	4	0	2	0		Olivo c	2	1	1	2
Jimerson pr-cf	0	1	0	0		Buck c	1	0	0	0
Morse 3b-1b	4	0	2	0		Gload 1b-rf	4	0	0	1
Betancourt ss	3	0	0	0		Smith 3b-ss	4	2	3	2
Truinfel ss	0	0	1	0		Pena ss	2	0	0	0
						Hollins lf	2	0	0	0
Totals	37	8	11	5		Totals	35	5	9	5

Seattle	401 000 210	—	8
Kansas City	030 100 100	—	5

E — Pena, Grudzielanek, Buck. DP — Seattle 1. LOB — Seattle 5, Kansas City 6. 2B — Vidro, Johjima, Reed, Teahen, Butler, Smith. 3B — Shealy. HR — Wilkerson, Olivo, Smith 2. CS — Morse. SF — Wilkerson, Triunfel.

Mariners	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Bedard, W	6	5	4	4	3	2
Baek	1	2	1	1	0	0
Green	1	1	0	0	0	1
Lowe, S	1	1	0	0	0	1

Royals	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Meche, L	5	7	5	4	1	3
Nunez	2	2	2	2	0	2
Yabuta	1	2	1	1	0	1
Gobble	1	0	0	0	0	1

WP — Baek. T — 2:34. A — 7,718.