M's Notebook: No truth to rumors of M's-White Sox deal

ANAHEIM, Calif. — What makes a lot of sense in Chicago apparently makes no headway with the Mariners.

A report in the Chicago Tribune suggested Friday that the White Sox's search for relief pitching may include Seattle right-hander Rafael Soriano and/or Julio Mateo.

According to various sources in the Seattle organization, however, there is no substance to the speculation. At least, not yet.

The story noted that the two clubs have found what seemed to be common ground in the past, with the trades of pitchers Freddy Garcia and Matt Thornton.

It also noted that former Chicago scouts Bob Fontaine Jr., Dan Evans and Rick Ingalls are now in the Seattle front office.

While Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi and Chicago counterpart Kenny Williams have dealt well with one another, Seattle could be leery since the main return for Garcia was catcher Miguel Olivo, and for Thornton it was outfielder Joe Borchard.

Neither found a home with the Mariners, and both are now playing in Florida.

It is believed that if Seattle were going to deal a reliever, it would first try to move left-hander Eddie Guardado.

Mateo could be considered moveable if the return was right, because he is regarded as a swingman between long relief and setup. Soriano, however, could be close to untouchable after becoming a fixture in the group Mike Hargrove uses to hold leads, with left-hander George Sherrill and closer J.J. Putz.

Mauer mauler

The next time the Mariners face the Twins' Joe Mauer, who was 9 for 13 in the Safeco Field series this week, Hargrove might try a different approach.

"We'll roll the ball on the ground when he pitch to him," Hargrove said.

"Everything we threw him was up. Every time we tried to get in on Mauer, we left the ball out over the plate," he continued. "He's a good young hitter with a chance to win a batting title some year, one of the finest young position players in the game today. But when you pitch up in the zone, you make a good hitter into a great hitter."

M's sign 10 picks

The Mariners announced they had signed 10 of their picks from this week's draft, including three of their top 10.

The three top picks who signed were catcher Adam Moore (sixth round), right-hander Doug Fister (seventh) and right-hander Justin Souza (ninth).

Moore, from the University of Texas-Arlington, hit .350, with 54 runs scored, 89 hits, 22 doubles, 10 home runs and 50 runs batted in this season.

Fister was 8-6 with a 4.10 earned-run average, with 108 strikeouts in 116-1/3 innings (20 games, 19 starts) during his senior season at Fresno State. He anchored the Bulldogs' staff, ranking among the top five of West Coast Conference pitchers in strikeouts for the season while compiling a 6-5 record.

Souza was 6-4 with a 2.11 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 89-2/3 innings (12 starts) this season with Sacramento City College. He was named to the 2006 Big 7 All-Conference team.

The Mariners also signed right-hander Joseph Kantakevich (13th); right-hander Austin Dirkx (16th), infielder Johan Limonta (20th), right-hander Kyle Parker (24th), left-hander Greg Nesbit (29th), outfielder Stan Posluszny (34th) and infielder Alex Meneses (35th).

How the runs scored

Mariners third: Reed grounded out, pitcher Escobar to first baseman Morales. Betancourt singled to left. Ichiro doubled to center, Betancourt to third. Betancourt was out advancing, center fielder Figgins to second baseman Kennedy to catcher Napoli, Betancourt out. Ichiro stole third. Beltre walked on a full count. Lopez doubled to center, Ichiro scored, Beltre to third. Ibanez was intentionally walked. Sexson flied out to center fielder Figgins. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. M's 1, Angels 0.

Mariners fourth: Everett walked on a full count. Johjima flied out to center fielder Figgins. Reed singled to right, Everett to second. On Guerrero's error, Everett scored, Reed to third. On Escobar's wild pitch, Reed scored. Betancourt struck out. Ichiro lined out to right fielder Guerrero. 2 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 0 left on. M's 3, Angels 0.

Angels fifth: Figgins popped out to second baseman Lopez. Cabrera infield single to second. Cabrera stole second. Anderson grounded out, second baseman Lopez to first baseman Sexson, Cabrera to third. Guerrero doubled to left, Cabrera scored. Salmon lined out to second baseman Lopez. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. M's 3, Angels 1.

Mariners eighth: Beltre popped out to shortstop Cabrera. Lopez grounded out, first baseman Morales unassisted. Ibanez homered to center on a 0-1 count. Sexson grounded out, shortstop Cabrera to first baseman Morales. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. M's 4, Angels 1.

Mariners statistics (through Friday)

SAT @ L.A. Angels

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Gil Meche (5-4) vs. RH John Lackey (4-3)

SU @ L.A. Angels

12:35 p.m., FSN

RH Felix Hernandez (5-6) vs. RH Jeff Weaver (3-8)

MON - OFF DAY

TU @ Oakland

7:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jamie Moyer (3-5) vs. RH Joe Blanton (5-5)

W @ Oakland

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Joel Pineiro (5-6) vs. RH Esteban Loaiza (1-3)

Th @ Oakland

12:35 p.m.

LH Jarrod Washburn (4-7) vs. RH Dan Haren (5-5)

FRI - San Francisco

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Gil Meche (5-4) vs. LH Noah Lowry (2-3)

For the record

W/L streak: W-1

At home: 19-17

On the road: 10-17

vs. AL West: 8-12

vs. Angels: 5-2

vs. Oakland: 1-6

vs. Texas: 2-4

vs. AL East: 7-7

vs. AL Cen.: 11-15

vs. NL: 3-0

vs. LHP: 7-16

vs. RHP: 22-18

Day: 7-13

Night: 22-21

1-run games: 4-9

Extra-inning games: 3-2