Sexson's suspension trimmed to five games

Richie Sexson's suspension was reduced from six games to five after the league heard his appeal Saturday.

Sexson, Seattle's first baseman, was suspended Friday for what the league termed "violent and aggressive actions" stemming from Thursday night's benches-clearing fight with the Texas Rangers.

"He wants to put it behind him," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "Just something that's been on his mind and stuff, and he just felt like it was better to go ahead and get this thing over with. And we're all aboard so let's go ahead and get it done."

The appeal hearing took place earlier Saturday via conference call, and involved Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi and Bob Watson, Major League Baseball's vice president in charge of discipline. Sexson had hoped to miss only three or four games, but said Saturday that "one's better than none."

Sexson charged the pitcher's mound in the fourth inning Thursday night after a pitch from the Rangers' Kason Gabbard came in high and at head level.

Sexson angrily chucked his helmet at Gabbard, hitting him in the upper back, and both team's benches emptied. The melee resulted in Sexson's suspension and fines for others involved, including Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez.

Sexson was suspended and fined but asked the players' association to appeal the suspension.

Sexson was in the lineup Friday pending the appeal, but missed Saturday night's game and won't play the series finale against the Chicago White Sox today. He will also miss a three-game series in Texas beginning Monday.

Sexson will stay in Seattle when the team heads to Texas, McLaren said.

"I might stay back and just come in [to Safeco Field] and hit," Sexson said when asked what he can do over the course of the suspension. Sexson is batting .202 this season.

Lineup shake-up

Without Sexson and with the Mariners struggling offensively, McLaren radically altered the batting order for Saturday.

Willie Bloomquist got the start at shortstop for Yuniesky Betancourt, who was 2 for 20 during the current homestand before Saturday's game. It was Bloomquist's ninth start of the season and he batted second for the first time.

"We're going to give him a chance to step back, too," McLaren said of Betancourt. "He's been pressing a bit, swinging at just more and more bad pitches."

Adrian Beltre batted third for just the fourth time this season. Raul Ibanez hit fourth for the fourth time in 2008, and second baseman Jose Lopez opened in the fifth spot after hitting second all season long. Lopez said he couldn't remember ever batting fifth in his career.

"I thought we needed some more punch in the middle of the lineup, that's why I moved Lopez down," McLaren said. Lopez entered the game batting .290 with 42 hits, tied for second-most on the team.

Miguel Cairo replaced Sexson at first base and made his fourth start of the season, batting ninth. Jose Vidro, the next option at first, didn't start because his back is still troubling him, McLaren said.

Notes

• McLaren said he couldn't help but smile when he watched fans throw up their arms in mock amazement as the Mariners scored their first run in 24 innings Friday night. "I had to laugh," McLaren said. "We're at the stage right now where we need a good laugh. We do."

• McLaren was asked how he is handling the team's recent struggles. "The baseball gods have for some reason got angry at us," he said. "I'm doing fine."

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

For the record

Streak: L5

Home: 8-12

Road: 6-12

vs. AL West: 9-9

vs. L.A.: 3-3

vs. Oakland: 3-2

vs. Texas: 3-4

vs. AL East: 3-10

vs. AL Central: 2-5

vs. NL: 0-0

vs. LHP: 2-7

vs. RHP: 12-17

Day: 3-7

Night: 11-17

One-run: 1-8

Extra innings: 0-1

Home attendance

Saturday's crowd: 33,078

Season total: 516,464

Biggest crowd: 46,334 (March 31)

Smallest crowd: 15,818 (May 6)

Average (20 dates): 25,823

2007 average (20 dates): 28,166