M's Notebook: Morse starts at third base as Beltre takes turn at DH

MINNEAPOLIS — After his club failed badly with the bases loaded and no outs twice Saturday night, Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said there was little he could do to change his lineup.

But he had already planned to do so for Sunday's game, when Adrian Beltre moved into the designated-hitter slot for a game, Mike Morse played third base and Carl Everett was not in the starting lineup.

It had nothing to do with Everett being caught too far around third base to complete the embarrassing triple play that crushed a bases-loaded bid in the eighth inning Saturday.

"I talked to Everett before the game Saturday and told him I was going to give him a day off," Hargrove said. "His legs are a little weary."

Yet it didn't quite go as the manager had planned. He had intended for Richie Sexson to get the day off and Morse to play first base.

"Richie wanted to play. So we gave the day off to the other sore-legged infielder," Hargrove said.

Beltre recalled being DH several times before, including interleague games while he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was reluctant to do it, noting, "It's not my preference, but I understand. It's probably good to get off the turf for a game."

As far as playing Morse at third in his first 2006 start, Hargrove said: "Our reports from Triple-A were that he was more comfortable at third base than anywhere else, so I feel comfortable playing him there."

Running meetings

Seattle's base-running boo-boos Sunday came after bench coach Ron Hassey and base coaches Carlos Garcia and Mike Goff met with position players before batting practice.

"Are we talking to them about being aggressive on the bases and being smart, too?" Hargrove said. "Duh."

It was that obvious.

"We're taking care of everyday business," the manager said. "We had that meeting in Oakland, and there's only so many of those you can have. This is just another way of refreshing what was said in that meeting."

Seattle instead has had a number of mini-meetings — Hargrove with Beltre behind the batting cage on Friday and with Beltre, Richie Sexson and Raul Ibanez on Sunday.

Notes

• Seattle guessed right with Luis Castillo running with two outs in the fifth inning Sunday, and Rene Rivera threw him out on a pitch-out. The Mariners got Castillo again in the seventh, when reliever George Sherrill threw to first base as Castillo broke for second — a perfect pickoff that was completed only because Sexson hauled down Sherrill's high throw and Yuniesky Betancourt fielded Sexson's bounced throw to second.

• Ichiro has played in 291 straight games — two shy of Edgar Martinez's team record of 293 over the 1994-96 seasons. Ichiro also has hit .386 (61 of 158) in the past 37 games.

How the runs scored Sunday

Mariners first: Ichiro singled to center. Lopez homered to left on a 2-1 count, Ichiro scored. Ibanez grounded out, second baseman Castillo to first baseman Morneau. Sexson struck out. Beltre grounded out, shortstop Punto to first baseman Morneau. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. M's 2, Twins 0.

Twins fourth: Mauer singled to left. Hunter grounded into a double play, shortstop Betancourt to first baseman Sexson, Mauer out. Cuddyer singled to left. Morneau homered to center on the first pitch, Cuddyer scored. Redmond singled to center. Rodriguez popped out to shortstop Betancourt. 2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Twins 2, M's 2.

Mariners fifth: Betancourt infield single to third. Ichiro singled to left, Betancourt to second. Lopez sacrificed, third baseman Rodriguez to first baseman Morneau, Betancourt to third, Ichiro to second. Ibanez hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Ford, Betancourt scored. Sexson struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. M's 3, Twins 2.

Twins sixth: Mauer doubled to center. Hunter grounded out, first baseman Sexson to pitcher Pineiro, Mauer to third. Cuddyer infield single to third. Morneau walked on four pitches, Cuddyer to second. Redmond hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Bloomquist, Mauer scored, Cuddyer to third. Rodriguez flied out to right fielder Ichiro. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Twins 3, M's 3.

Twins tenth: Guardado pitching. Ford homered to center on a 1-2 count. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Twins 4, M's 3.

Mariners statistics (through Sunday)

The week ahead

M @ Texas

5:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jarrod Washburn (3-5) vs. LH John Rheinecker (0-0)

TU @ Texas

5:05 p.m., Ch. 11

RH Gil Meche (4-3) vs. RH Kevin Millwood (5-3)

W @ Texas

11:05 a.m. RH Felix Hernandez (3-6) vs. LH John Koronka (4-2)

TH

OFF DAY

F Kansas City

7:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jamie Moyer (2-5) vs. LH Jeremy Affeldt (2-5)

SA Kansas City

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Joel Pineiro (4-5) vs. RH Runelvys Hernandez (1-4)

SU Kansas City

1:05 p.m., Ch. 11

LH Jarrod Washburn (3-5) vs. LH Jimmy Gobble (0-1)

For the record

W/L streak: L-4

At home: 14-15

On the road: 8-15

vs. AL West: 6-10

vs. Angels: 4-2

vs. Oakland: 1-6

vs. Texas: 1-2

vs. AL East: 7-7

vs. AL Cent.: 6-13

vs. NL: 3-0

vs. LHP: 5-13

vs. RHP: 17-17

Day: 6-11

Night: 16-19

1-run games: 3-9

Extra-inning games: 2-2