Mariners
First month brings M's to knees

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

DOUG PENSINGER / GETTY IMAGES Bret Boone collects himself after an RBI single by Miguel Tejada.

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BALTIMORE — Don't be surprised if, on next year's schedule, the Mariners spell April A-W-F-U-L.

But even if the club's inexplicable combination of poor pitching and no hitting persists, spell Bob Melvin M-A-N-A-G-E-R.

To this point, Melvin's position is solid, with team officials recognizing that the amazing failure to get key outs and/or key hits is the fault of the players, who are still playing hard for Melvin.

Earlier this week, general manager Bill Bavasi, thought to be strongly supportive of Melvin, refused to address the issue.

Yet with yesterday's 9-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles giving Seattle two 1-7 stretches already, speculation is sure to grow.

The defeat leaves the Mariners 7-15, and losers of five of seven series.

Whatever happens tonight in the opener of the three-game series in Detroit, the Mariners will finish their worst April in at least 18 years, since 7-14 in 1986 — the month that got manager Chuck Cottier fired.

If they lose, it will be the second-worst opening month in club history, since 5-14 in 1981 — the month that got manager Maury Wills fired.

"This is everyone's fault. No one is playing well," shortstop Rich Aurilia said. "It's been a miserable trip so far. We can't say we'd like to get back on track. We haven't been on track yet this year."

Aurilia suggested what would help is to "blow somebody out." And, in the first inning yesterday, Melvin found himself thinking that maybe this would be the day for the elusive laugher.

Ichiro opened the game with a walk. After Aurilia lined out to center field, Bret Boone singled.

	DOUG PENSINGER / GETTY IMAGES Ben Davis tags out Baltimore's Brian Roberts at home for the third out of the fourth inning yesterday.

"I thought we'd score some runs and take some pressure off our starting pitcher," Melvin said. "We're 20-what (22) games into it, and we're not even close."

Indeed, with two on and one out and a 2-1 count in his favor, Edgar Martinez bounced a changeup from Baltimore left-hander Eric DuBose into a playground-easy 6-4-3 double play.

Thus, starting pitcher Joel Pineiro did not get an early cushion, although it didn't look as if he would need one.

"I couldn't feel better, couldn't wish for better stuff," the right-hander said after giving up 12 hits and five earned runs and taking his third loss in five starts.

"Maybe I should feel lousy," he said. "I don't know what's going on. They didn't kill me. They just kept getting hits. Eleven singles? One double? That's crazy. I'm starting to get frustrated."

With his fastball in the mid-90s, a slippery slider and big curveball, Pineiro threw 62 strikes and 32 balls. He fought off a two-on, no-out jam in the first, eased through the second and had four strikeouts by then.

"He was awesome. I can't figure out what's going wrong with him," Melvin said. "We're shaking our heads."

But Pineiro did not bust the Orioles inside to create fear of leaning over the plate. And much like the young Texas hitters over the weekend, Baltimore teed off on Seattle pitching.

"That's been brought up with him a couple of times," Melvin said. "And when he comes in (inside), it should be at the belt and higher."

Pineiro said he did go inside a bit, but he thought he wouldn't have to as much after Seattle pitchers had knocked Baltimore batters off the plate the first two games.

"I thought they'd be looking in, but maybe not," he said.

Pineiro was touched for four runs in the third, starting with one of those missed chances that are falling about Mariners heads now.

Brian Roberts hit a high bouncer just to the right of Pineiro on the mound. The pitcher reached up, then pulled his glove down, and the ball grounded past an unmoving Boone into center field for a leadoff single.

"I tried to get one of those my last game and deflected it into a hit," Pineiro said. "So I let it go."

In the late-afternoon glare, Boone did not see the ball until it was too late.

Melvin Mora, who like Roberts had four hits, doubled to left-center field to put runners at second and third. Miguel Tejada then smashed a hard grounder to the right of Boone, who muffed the shot that was ruled a hit, scoring the first run.

Rafael Palmeiro drove a high fastball off the wall in right for a single that drove in another run. A third scored when Scott Spiezio let a double-play grounder through for an error, and a fourth run scored on a sacrifice fly.

With the Mariners making one young pitcher after another look like Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain these days, DuBose was in control.

Seattle cut the lead to 4-2 around Raul Ibanez's bloop double over third base in the fifth. But the Orioles erupted for five more in the seventh to put it away.

"We can't close the big innings off. We fall behind early," said Melvin, whose club has been outscored 46-10 in the first three innings this season. "Up until the eighth inning, we had three hits. We can't apply pressure early, and our small rallies later are not enough."

Melvin spoke of "possible lineup changes," although he emphasized, "You want to stay with our guns, not give up on them too early."

Ichiro, 3 for 22 over five games, is one of several candidates for a rest.

The right fielder admitted to pressing like everyone else.

"I don't think of what we are going through all the time," he said. "I don't think of the problems when I'm asleep."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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