Notebook | Kenji Johjima hitting streak at 6 games after sitting

A week ago Friday, Kenji Johjima's name was absent from the Mariners' lineup mostly because he just wasn't hitting well.

Asked about the move then, Mariners manager John McLaren said it was time for the slumping team to put the best nine players out on the field each night without worrying about anything other than trying to win that game.

Johjima sat out that night but returned to the lineup the next night, and since then has begun to turn around a season that was threatening to go off the rails and make that three-year, $24 million extension he signed in April look a little worrisome.

Johjima was 9 for his past 21 entering Friday night's game, then added to his recent tear with a two-run, two-out homer in the bottom of the second to give him a six-game hitting streak. In the process, he raised his average from .184 a week ago to .227 entering Friday night.

"He's starting to hit the ball with some authority," McLaren said. "I think it's starting to fall in place for him. He's put a lot of pressure on himself with the team struggling and stuff, and I think he was trying too hard. Hopefully he'll get in a relaxed mode and start swinging the bat the way he's capable."

Other than saying he's seeing the ball a little better, Johjima professes not to know any reason for the turnaround, saying, "There's not anything that I've changed."

Johjima, however, has more on his mind than hitting.

After some recent rumblings of a little disconnect between Johjima and some of the team's pitchers, the Mariners called in catching coordinator Roger Hansen to help get the pitchers and catchers back on the same page. Hansen arrived Thursday.

"He talked to all the catchers to find out what difficulties they've been having, what we need to do to correct them," McLaren said. "He's got a way of putting things [in a way] not too many of us could put it. He's kind of direct. We've had some difficulties in our signs and some other stuff, so I think that will be taken care of shortly."

Griffey trade talk muted

While there was a lot of chatter a week or so ago about a possible return of Ken Griffey Jr. to Seattle, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty has poured water on the flames with recent comments.

"I've had no trade discussions," Jocketty told The Cincinnati Enquirer on Thursday. "He [Griffey] assured me that he'd like to play here and hopefully win a championship."

Sexson back

The game marked the return of Richie Sexson to the lineup after he was suspended five games for instigating a fight with Texas pitcher Kason Gabbard on May 8.

He started at first and hit fifth, which moved second baseman Jose Lopez back to No. 2 in the lineup. Lopez hit .500 (10 for 20) in those five games.

McLaren said he hopes the time off might prove beneficial for Sexson, who entered the night hitting .202. "Sometimes it's good just to step back a little bit and watch the game in front of you and kind of regroup mentally," he said.

Notes

• The first pitch was thrown out by Central Washington softball players Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace and Western Oregon's Sara Tucholsky, who gained a measure of fame when the two CWU players carried Tucholsky around the bases after she hit a home run and then hurt her knee rounding first base. The trio have also appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and have been invited to the ESPYs but said they were awed by taking the field at Safeco. "People know your name," said Holtman. "And it's weird. But it's one of those stories that people hang onto because of all the circumstances around the story that make it an even better story."

• McLaren said pitcher Carlos Silva, who pulled himself out of Wednesday's game at Texas with back pain, "felt fine" on Friday.

• Starter Jarrod Washburn, whose turn is being skipped, will be available in the bullpen all weekend, McLaren said. Washburn got the save Wednesday when he pitched a scoreless 12th inning against the Rangers. Washburn is next scheduled to start on Wednesday. He last started May 10.

For the record

Streak: L1

Home: 9-13

Road: 7-14

vs. AL West: 10-11

vs. L.A.: 3-3

vs. Oakland: 3-2

vs. Texas: 4-6

vs. AL East: 3-10

vs. AL Central: 3-5

vs. NL: 0-1

vs. LHP: 2-8

vs. RHP: 14-19

Day: 5-7

Night: 11-20

One-run: 2-9

Extra innings: 1-2

Home attendance

Friday's crowd: 35,586Season total: 582,396

Biggest crowd: 46,334 (March 31)

Smallest crowd: 15,818 (May 6)

Average (22 dates): 26,473

2007 average (22 dates): 28,961