M'S HOLD ON TO WIN 6-3 --- Matt Tuiasosopo nicely began a 5-4-3 double play to end the game for the Mariners, now 4-4 on the spring.

That was one of three double plays for Seattle, which Wakamatsu pointed to in his post-game comments as the highlight of the day.

No real new personnel news as he said Jack Wilson made it through the game just fine, his first action since a little hamstring deal last Friday.

Ichiro and Chone Figgins will play each of the next three games then take the two-game Tucson trip off.

M'S UP 6-3 TO BOTTOM OF NINTH --- Will have to head down for interviews now but will update as soon as can.

SWEENEY SAYS COACHING NOT FOR HIM --- I see a comment from one of you about why won't Sweeney just be a coach. Interestingly, that was brought up when he talked to us right after we talked to Lee and he said that's not an option --- nor is going to the Minor Leagues.

He said he wants to be with the M's, with another ML team, or he will head to his San Diego home.

He also said both his hits today came on fastballs and he again credited work he has done with hitting coach Alan Cockrell to "slow down'' the opposing pitcher. Namely, he said he has narrowed his stance, speeding up his own motion and in effect slowing down the pitcher.

A FEW QUOTES FROM LEE: Lee said he felt a lot better today than in the simulated game five days ago, noting the 36 strikes in 46 pitches.

He said his main goal today was to locate his fastball, and that the first at-bat of the game, when he threw 12 pitches to Julio Borbon, might have been handled differently if it were a regular season game --- he was throwing fastballs at times today just to get the work in.

"I wanted to locate fastballs, that was the number one thing,'' he said. "I was pleased with where that was and I was able to use more pitches than I anticipated (because he was locating the fastball better).''

His goal had been 45 pitches so hit it almost right on the mark getting out of three in 46.

TEXAS CATCHING UP --- Ricky Orta has gotten hit around and Texas has closed it to 6-3 with two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth. Now on is Garrett Olson.

STILL 6-1 GOING TO BOTTOM OF EIGHTH --- Mariners no runs in top of eighth so 6-1 going to bottom.

French threw two innings while I was away giving up three hits but no runs as he attempts to stay in the hunt for the No. 5 job in the rotation.

LEE SAYS FOOT FINE --- This was Lee's first appearance due to the surgery he had to repair bone spurts on his left foot. He said the foot made it through fine and is a "none-issue'' and hasn't been an issue for a few weeks now.

So all good on the Cliff Lee front today. Still 6-1 in top of seven.

STILL 6-1 END SIXTH --- Had to go talk to Cliff Lee, so missed the last inning. Lots of national writers here to document this, as well.

Bradley walked into the clubhouse while Lee was talking but said he didn't want to talk.

M'S UP 6-1 --- Seattle has a big lead after a four-run fifth. Jack Wilson also had a double to key the inning. Now pitching for the M's is Anthony Varvaro.

SWEENEY DOES IT AGAIN --- Two pitches after Bradley was hit, Sweeney hit a double off Feliz to right field to make it 6-1. Sweeney is now 10-13 for the spring with six RBI in four games.

M'S UP 3-1 --- Bradley was just hit by Feliz with the bases loaded, scoring Josh Wilson to make it 3-1.

LEE'S FINAL LINE ---- 3 IP, 5 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout. 48 pitches, 37 strikes. And they also revised his pitch count to 46 pitches, 36 strikes.

SWEENEY WITH ANOTHER HIT --- He doubled in the fourth off Neftali Feliz andn is now 9-12 on the spring. But Feliz struck out the other three batters in the inning so we go to the bottom with Seattle ahead 2-1.

Lee is now out and Sean White the new pitcher.

LEE GIVES UP A RUN --- Third ends 2-1 as Lee gave up three hits and a run in the third inning, but got a double play to avoid major damage. The run scored on the double play after singles by Ray Olmedo (who scored) and Borbon. Murphy singled after the DP but Guerrero then grounded out.

Lee has thrown 48 pitches, 37 for strikes, and is probably done for the day.

He worked ahead in the count most of the day and was ahead of all the batters in the third.

LEE GOING OUT FOR A THIRD INNING --- M's leada 2-0 with a run in the second when Josh Wilson walked and came around to score on a Sac-8 by Ichiro. The inning ended with Figgins thrown out at second on a steal attempt, though everyone seemed to think he was safe.

LEE GETS THROUGH SECOND --- He gave up a bouncing single up the middle by Joaquin Arias with two outs and walked Chris Davis to lead off the inning.

But he got out of it unscathed.

After the walk, he got Mitch Moreland to hit into a 4-6-3 double play (nicely turned by Jack Wilson at short, showing no issues with his hamstring) and after the hit, got Taylor Teagarden to hit into a 5-4 fielder's choice.

Through two innings he's thrown 33 pitches, 25 strikes. In the second it was 12 pitches, eight strikes.

M'S GO DOWN 1-2-3 IN SECOND --- Last out a caught-looking strikeout of Adam Moore by Rangers starter C.J. Wilson.

M'S LEAD 1-0 AFTER FIRST --- Bradley hit a 6-3 to score Ichiro, who singled, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a Figgins grounder, to make it 1-0.

Lee then made it hold up in the bottom of the first, allowing a hit.

He went to 3-2 on leadoff batter Julio Borbon, who then smoked it to right but right at Ichiro.

Esteban German then singled sharply up the middle.

But Lee then struck out David Murphy on a breaking pitch on a 1-2 count and got Vvladimir Guerrero to hit into a 5-4 fielder's choice on an 0-1 pitch.

Officially, he threw 21 pitches, 17 for strikes.

WAKAMATSU ON THE BRADLEY INTERVIEW --- Some of you may have heard about the Milton Bradley interview last night on ESPN, which I understand the network is playing about as often as Sponge Bob on Nickelodeon. In the interview, Bradley makes some pretty harsh comments about his treatment last season in Chicago.

Here's a link to the interview as well as a story with some reaction.

Wakamatsu was asked about the interview before the game today. He said he hadn't seen it yet but that he didn't think it would have any impact on his situation here with the Mariners.

"I think that's got to go through that a little bit for his own sake,'' Wakamatsu said. "But I think he is happy here. We are extremely pleased with his progress and he's fitting in well.''

He also said he wasn't unhappy that Bradley would give such an interview now.

"We talk about giving guys the freedom to feel welcome here and be themselves,'' he said. "This is something that will pass. What I care about most is Milton coming in and being in good shape and playing the game and helping us win.''

AARDSMA FINE AFTER BULLPEN SESSION --- In his latest step to returning from a groin injury, closer David Aardsma threw about 25 pitches today in a bullpen session, then said later that he made it through just fine and expects to make his spring debut Friday against Kansas City.

TODAY'S LINEUPS ---

Here they are again:

SEATTLE
Ichiro, RF
Chone Figgins, 2B
Milton Bradley, LF
Mike Sweeney, DH
Casey Kotchman, 1B
Franklin Gutierrez, CF
Adam Moore, C
Josh Wilson, 3B
Jack Wilson, SS

TEXAS
Julio Borbon, CF
Esteban German, 3B
David Murphy, LF
Vladimir Guerrero, DH
Chris Davis, 1B
Mitch Moreland, RF
Joaquin Arias, SS
Taylor Teagarden, C
Ray Olmedo, 2B
C.J. Wilson, LHP

The game is not on the radio today as KIRO is only doing 22 of the 33 games, skipping some weekday games apparently so as not to pre-empt its regular programming (which would mostly just be the Brock and Salk Show) for substantial periods of time during this month.

The next radio game is Friday against Kansas City.