M's Notebook: Lawton asked for his release

Mariners reserve outfielder Matt Lawton said he asked upper management several weeks ago to release him so he could get regular playing time with another team.

The 34-year-old Lawton, who started four games last week before sitting Saturday night, said he was "pretty miserable" at the beginning of the season.

He felt he didn't have a clear role with the team after spring training, which "kind of bugged me." Then when the season started, he wasn't getting enough at-bats to establish any kind of rhythm.

Missing the first 10 games of the season with a suspension for steroid use last year also didn't help.

"It's impossible to stay ready," Lawton said. "You sit down for two weeks, then OK, you get one start, then OK, you get two starts. Now I'm sitting again, and then you're going to be lost again.

"When I get the opportunity, I'll play hard. But I can't control when I'm going to play, where I'm going to play."

An All-Star in 2000 and 2004, with Minnesota and Cleveland, Lawton has seven hits — all singles — in 22 at-bats this season. He has walked twice and has one run batted in. During the recent four-game stretch, Lawton had five hits in 13 at-bats.

Guardado fine-tuning his mechanics

Reliever Eddie Guardado said he's trying to make a few "fine" adjustments to his mechanics and arm-delivery angle after his recent demotion from the closer role.

"I've got to concentrate on what's made me successful in this game," Guardado said, "and that's fastball, down and away.

"What I'm working on a little bit is hitting that spot every day, like I've been doing the last 12 years. When it's time to hit that spot, I've got to hit it. And lately, I haven't been hitting that spot."

Mariners manager Mike Hargrove praised Guardado's performance in the ninth inning of Friday's loss — a 19-pitch, one-hit, one-strikeout effort.

"We need to see Eddie do that more times for his own sake, so we can start closing him again," Hargrove said. "When Eddie closes, our bullpen falls into place a lot better."

Slumping Sexson "trying to get it right"

Mired in one of the worst slumps of his career, first baseman Richie Sexson said he hasn't changed his daily routine except "just working a little harder and trying to get it right."

The slugger's batting average plummeted to .198 after going 0 for 4 Friday. He was 1 for 3 Saturday, improving to .202.

Sexson has just three hits in May, and just six hits in his past 39 at-bats. He has scratched out just one run batted in from the cleanup slot during that span, a solo home run May 1 against Minnesota.

"Everyday you've got to think that today's the day," Sexson said. "I'm not going to show up here and say, 'I'm going to stink again.' "

Hargrove said: "You've just got to trust the hard work and the things that you believe in and how you're doing them. You've got to believe they'll work.

"Eventually, it will work. Guys like Sexson, at the end of it all, he'll be around his career averages."

Hargrove said Sexson isn't 100 percent healthy because of a bruised right heel, but doesn't think it's negatively affecting Sexson's swing.

Notes

• With two stolen bases Friday, 3B Adrian Beltre has nine steals, tied for the team lead with Ichiro. The Mariners lead the American League with 27 steals.

• Last year's No. 3 overall draft pick, C Jeff Clement, underwent two surgeries Friday: one to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee, and the other to remove loose matter from his left elbow. Clement, playing in Class AA San Antonio, is expected to miss between six and eight weeks.

• A remarkable indication of LHP Jamie Moyer's longevity, the 43-year-old has pitched to six father-son combinations: Buddy and David Bell; Bob, Bret and Aaron Boone; Jose and Jose (Jr.) Cruz; Ken and Ken (Jr.) Griffey; Tony and Eduardo Perez; and Gary and Daryle Ward.

How the runs scored Saturday

Indians first: Sizemore homered to right on a 2-2 count. Michaels grounded out, shortstop Betancourt to first baseman Sexson. Peralta flied out to left fielder Ibanez. Martinez singled to right. Broussard grounded out, first baseman Sexson unassisted. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Indians 1, M's 0.

Mariners fourth: Sexson singled to left. Everett singled to left, Sexson to second. Beltre doubled to left, Sexson scored, Everett scored. Johjima singled to right, Beltre scored. Johjima to second. Lopez sacrificed, catcher Martinez to second baseman Belliard, Johjima to third. Betancourt popped out to left fielder Michaels. Ichiro walked on a full count. Bloomquist flied out to right fielder Blake. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. M's 3, Indians 1.

Mariners seventh: Betancourt popped out to second baseman Belliard. Ichiro singled to right. Bloomquist popped out to second baseman Belliard. Ibanez doubled to center, Ichiro scored. Cabrera pitching. Sexson struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. M's 4, Indians 1.

Mariners statistics (through Saturday)

For the record

W/L streak: W-1

At home: 7-11

On the road: 6-8

vs. AL West: 4-6

vs. Angels: 2-1

vs. Oakland: 1-3

vs. Texas: 1-2

vs. AL East: 3-4

vs. AL Central: 6-9

vs. NL: 0-0

vs. LHP: 3-7

vs. RHP: 10-12

Day: 3-6

Night: 10-13

1-run games: 2-7

Extra-inning games: 1-1

Home attendance

Saturday's crowd: 28,672

Overall attendance: 448,249

Season avg. (18 games): 26,496

Biggest crowd: 45,515

Smallest crowd: 17,613

2005 avg. (18 games): 33,554

SUNDAY

Cleveland

1:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jarrod Washburn (2-4) vs. LH C.C. Sabathia (1-0)

MON

Tampa Bay

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Gil Meche (1-2) vs. LH Casey Fossum (1-1)

TUES

Tampa Bay

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Felix Hernandez (1-4) vs. RH Doug Waechter (0-1)

WEDS

Tampa Bay

1:35 p.m.

LH Jamie Moyer (1-2) vs. LH Scott Kazmir (4-2)