Mariners earn their first sweep of season with 9-2 rout of San Diego

SAN DIEGO — There were smiles, music and upbeat chatter as the Mariners got dressed fresh off their first three-game sweep of the year.

Perhaps it was merely the realization that they are finally halfway through this dismal 2008 campaign. Or maybe, their second winning trip of 2008 had removed some of the tension after the firings and job speculation of the past month.

Whatever the cause, the less gloomy mood after a 9-2 rout of the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon was a rare change for a team that seemed to spend the first half of the season dreading its arrival to the workplace.

"It's great to have that energy and that fun out there," said Jose Vidro, who had a pair of singles, including one in a five-run seventh inning by Seattle that put this game away. "It's just a lot better, a lot different atmosphere for us.

"And things are falling for us now," he added. "We're getting those hits now. And pitchers are doing a great job."

The hits certainly fell in for Vidro, who went 3 for 8 the final two games starting at first base in an effort that may prolong his stint with the team. Richie Sexson didn't play the final two contests here, finishing 4 for 22 on a trip many folks didn't think he'd even be on or come home from.

The fates of Sexson and Vidro remain the most obvious question marks still surrounding the team as it heads home having captured six of nine on the trip under new manager Jim Riggleman. Despite the sweep of San Diego, on the verge of dropping below Seattle as the worst team in baseball, the Mariners still remain on pace to lose 100 games at the halfway point in their schedule.

"We just feel like we're playing pretty good baseball," Riggleman said after his team's 18-hit barrage in front of 29,966 fans at Petco Park. "And just trying to win the game. Not getting ahead of ourselves, nothing like that. Just win the game. Make every pitch, every play count. And I think the guys are doing that. They're focusing, giving it a good effort."

Jeff Clement hit a solo homer in the ninth to cap the onslaught. Adrian Beltre had an earlier, two-run blast in the sixth off losing Padres starter Jake Peavy, while Ichiro tied a career game high for hits with five singles.

The Mariners plan to give Clement ample catching time going forward and will use Kenji Johjima more often as a designated hitter.

When Clement isn't catching, he'll be a DH as well. That is likely part of the reason that regular DH Vidro saw play at first base as the team seeks alternatives — both for Vidro as far as playing time goes and the first-base position as well once the inevitable parting of ways with Sexson takes place.

Erik Bedard remains a question mark as well as teams inquire about his availability. Bedard lasted a decent 5-2/3 innings in this one, but ran out of gas in the sixth when he walked the bases loaded.

One run scored on a sacrifice fly by the dangerous Adrian Gonzalez, on a drive to center that looked like a grand slam coming off his bat. Bedard was lifted at that point, his pitch count at 94 and Riggleman not wanting him to face right-handed masher Kevin Kouzmanoff with two on in a 3-1 game.

Bedard was asked afterward whether he was tiring in an inning that saw him falling behind hitters and unable to put them away.

"That was pretty much it," he said, nodding in agreement.

But Sean Green got Kouzmanoff to ground out and the offense erupted for six consecutive singles in the following inning to earn Bedard his first victory since May 28. Bedard had no recurring problems with the stiff back that forced him from his previous start nine days earlier.

He shrugged when asked if the mood inside the clubhouse seemed to be healing as well.

"Well, when you win, that's pretty much what happens," he said. "When you lose, everybody's down and when you win, everybody's upbeat and having more fun."

But as fun as it was, against the worst team the National League has to offer, it pales next to the gloom that permeated the first 81 games that has the team at 31-50.

"We won three games in a row," Ichiro said through an interpreter. "Hopefully, we can get things straight now. But we have to get everything straight inside [our heads] first, before we take care of everything during the game.

"And just because we won three games, we can't take it lightly. We still have to push ourselves mentally and physically. Because that's what the grind's all about. It's just like a marathon."

More like an ultra-marathon. The Mariners just got their midway intravenous injection of fluids. Now, they have to spend the next 81 games trying to avoid getting carried off the course.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.