It's now 6-1 for the Rangers in the seventh inning after Doug Fister was chased from the game in the fifth. Jason Vargas got the final out of that inning, then gave up a run in the sixth.

Fister lasted just the 4 2/3 frames and was pulled shortly after a David Murphy home run made it a 5-1 game. The linescore wasn't pretty, with Fister allowing the five runs on 10 hits -- five for extra bases, including two homers.

Ichiro should get a chance at bat by the eighth inning. Maybe this one if Seattle can string some hits together.

4:20 p.m.: Seattle trails 4-1 as we enter the fifth inning. Texas scored a pair off Doug Fister in the fourth, with Ivan Rodroguez doubling to left and coming home on a double to left center by Esteban German. A single to center by Julio Borbon brought German in. Fister has allowed eight hits in four innings -- four for extra bases.

3:45 p.m.: Ichiro is now one hit away from No. 200 for a record ninth straight season. He lined a Tommy Hunter pitch the opposite way to the left field corner to bring home a run and cut the Texas lead to 2-1. A one-out walk by Ryan Langerhans got the rally started. Ichiro's hit is the only one of the game by the M's so far.

3:36 p.m.: Chris Davis tagged Doug Fister for a solo home run to straightaway center to make it 2-0 in the second inning. Fister issued a leadoff single to Nelson Cruz, then got a 5-4-3 double play grounder on Ivan Rodgriguez before Davis took him deep for homer No. 19 of the season. We could see Ichiro bat this inning if somebody gets on.

3:20 p.m.: Texas has a 1-0 lead after an inning of play as an Ian Kinsler double to the left field corner off Doug Fister put runners at second and third with one out. Marlon Byrd then grounded out to the right side to bring the run home. Elvis Andrus had reached base with one out when first baseman Jack Hannahan failed to squeeze a one-hopped throw from shortstop Jack Wilson.

3:07 p.m.: They've played the anthem, dumped a beachload of dirt and sand on the infield and sucked as much water away as they could. Now, they hope the radar is wrong and that the rain holds off as long as possible. First-pitch got underway at 3:06 p.m. Pacific time. Ichiro grounded out to second in the first AB. So, my question is, if Ichiro gets a couple of hits before the first inning, does he celebrate the record? Because if the game is called off because of rain in the fourth or fifth inning, it might not count. Do they wait for the fifth inning to finish, then storm the field in congratulations, rolling out a carpet and plaque for an impromptu ceremony? Stuff to consider.

The lineups:

MARINERS

RF Ichiro
CF Franklin Gutierrez
2B Jose Lopez
DH Ken Griffey Jr.
3B Adrian Beltre
1B Jack Hannahan
C Kenji Johjima
LF Ryan Langerhans
SS Jack Wilson

RHP Doug Fister

RANGERS

LF Julio Borbon
SS Elvis Andrus
2B Ian Kinsler
CF Marlon Byrd
DH David Murphy
RF Nelson Cruz
C Ivan Rodriguez
1B Chris Davis
3B Esteban German

RHP Tommy Hunter