Notebook | Putz could be activated by today

J.J. Putz was one of the first Mariners on the field Saturday morning, but he wasn't taking the field for the Mariners.

At least not yet, but that could change today. Manager Jim Riggleman said Putz may be activated from the disabled list, where he has been since June 12 with a hyperextended right elbow.

"I'd say there's a good chance we'll activate him," Riggleman said after Saturday's 9-6 loss to Cleveland.

Putz pitched a scoreless 1-2/3 innings in Tacoma on Friday night and was at Safeco Field on Saturday morning playing catch in the outfield before his team took the field for batting practice.

Riggleman said Putz will either pitch one more game for Tacoma today or he will be activated to play for the Mariners.

"Nothing is cast in stone yet," Riggleman said before Saturday's game. "I don't know if he'll throw another one down there or he'll be activated."

Putz pitched twice in Arizona last week, throwing a simulated game July 13 and a rookie-league game two days later. He faced five batters Friday in Tacoma, struck out one and 13 of the 17 pitches he threw were strikes.

Extra, extra

Ichiro hit a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth, ending a streak of 136 plate appearances without an extra-base hit. He hadn't had an extra-base hit since hitting a double against Washington on June 14.

Starting a transition?

Ryan Rowland-Smith pitched four innings after entering the game to relieve Mariners starter Miguel Batista in the third inning. He didn't allow a run in the final three innings. Riggleman said after the game the possibility of making Rowland-Smith a starter is something that has been talked about with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre and interim general manager Lee Pelekoudas.

"Starting eventually is going to be in the plans there," Riggleman said of Rowland-Smith. "But right now we're getting some good work from him in the bullpen and could use him that way. But it seems like throughout the system, we might be a little light there — starting — and a little strong in the bullpen. So he might be a guy who makes that transition."

For the record

Streak: L1

Home: 20-28

Road: 18-31

vs. AL West: 11-17

vs. L.A.: 3-6

vs. Oakland: 4-5

vs. Texas: 4-6

vs. AL East: 11-18

vs. AL Cent.: 7-15

vs. NL: 9-9

vs. LHP: 10-17

vs. RHP: 28-42

Day: 11-20

Night: 27-39

One-run: 11-19

Extra inn.: 2-4

Home attendance

Saturday's crowd: 37,869

Season total: 1,375,721

Biggest crowd: 46,334 (March 31)

Smallest crowd: 15,818 (May 6)

Average (48 dates): 28,661

2007 average (48 dates): 31,412

Riggleman said that would be something the team could do during the regular season.

Choo-se your poison

Shin-Soo Choo hit a two-run home run in the first inning and hit a ground-rule double to drive in a run in the third.

"He's a good looking little hitter," Riggleman said after the game. "He kind of looks like Matt Stairs up there, and that's a compliment."

Choo used to be a Mariner. He was traded to Cleveland in 2006 in exchange for Ben Broussard.

Notes

• Cleveland's victory was its first road victory since June 21. Cleveland had lost 10 in a row on the road.

• Riggleman said the team has not ruled out the possibility of Erik Bedard returning this month. He said it's possible Bedard could be ready to pitch in the Mariners' three-game series in Texas, which begins July 28. "It just depends on when he comes out here Monday and plays some catch, how that goes," Riggleman said, "and how soon he can throw a bullpen session."

• Indians DH Grady Sizemore of Everett's Cascade High, walked four times, the most by any Cleveland batter this year.