By Jeff Sullivan

– MLB Editor

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Jun 3, 2011 – The Seattle Mariners have been one of the hottest teams in baseball. Maybe you already knew that. Maybe you didn’t already know that. But you know that now. The Mariners came into play on Thursday at 28-27, winners of 11 of their past 14 games. But where ordinarily you’d assume that a hot team has been clicking on all cylinders, the Mariners haven’t been. Their ERA over that span was an outstanding 2.37, but they averaged only 3.6 runs scored per game, the consequence of a .641 team OPS.

Even while winning, the Mariners haven’t been able to hit. And a big problem – maybe the biggest problem – has been a dearth of power. After bringing up the league rear with 101 total home runs in 2010, the Mariners came in on Thursday again in last place, with 29 dingers against Oakland’s second-to-last 32. Home runs aren’t a necessary component of a productive offense, but they’re a big help, and without them, the M’s have been struggling to score.

Given that Thursday brought the Rays and bounceback ace James Shields to Seattle, it looked like M’s fans were in for more of the same. They’d get a good start from Felix Hernandez, they’d watch the offense flail away against Shields, and the game would ultimately be decided by one or two runs. That’s the way it had been for weeks, and there was no reason to think it would change.

But oh, did it change. If only for one night, Mariners fans were treated to something completely different, as they watched their team sock four home runs and thump Shields and the Rays 8-2.

The Rays actually threatened first, getting men on the corners with two out against Felix in the top of the first. But Felix struck out B.J. Upton to esce, and after that, the Rays would never again feel like they had the upper hand.

Jack Cust led off the bottom of the second by blasting a 2-0 Shields fastball out to center for his first home homer of the year, and second homer overall. Four batters later, Chone Figgins’ seeing-eye single plated another run, and then rookie Carlos Peguero stepped in and launched a changeup way out for a three-run shot that made the score 5-0.

The score widened in the third with Adam Kennedy’s RBI double, and the score only widened even further in the fourth. Peguero led off by knocking a hanging curve out to left-center for his second home run of the game. Three batters after that, Justin Smoak pulled a low line drive out to right. Smoak’s was the Mariners’ fourth homer on the night, and it made the score 8-0.

With Felix cruising, the Rays might as well have given up then and there and saved everyone the trouble. Felix wound up going seven innings, allowing one run and striking out 11 before getting pulled with 97 pitches. And though the Mariners didn’t score again after Smoak’s longball, the Rays never made it competitive. A garbage time solo homer by Matt Joyce in the eighth made it 8-2, but that’s where the score stuck, with Chris Ray polishing off the ninth.

A freak power display? Definitely a freak power display. The Mariners aren’t going to hit four home runs a night. The Mariners aren’t going to hit one home run a night. But the timing on Thursday was good, as the run support allowed the M’s to feel what it’s like to soundly defeat a quality opponent. It had been some time since the last time they’d done that. The Padres don’t count.

The four-game series continues on Friday, with Andy Sonnanstine opposing Jason Vargas.

For more on the Rays and Mariners, please visit team blogs DRays Bay and Lookout Landing.

Read More: Jack Cust (DH – SEA), James Shields (P – TAM), Felix Hernandez (P – SEA), Carlos Peguero (LF – SEA), Justin Smoak (1B – SEA), Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners

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SEATTLE — Facing the hard-throwing Felix Hernandez on a chilly night is no hitter’s idea of a good time.

In that context, the A’s meager output against the reigning American League Cy Young winner Thursday night was no big surprise.

But the A’s are out of mulligans after a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

Regardless of weather conditions or any other variables, they need to take care of business against cellar-dwelling teams such as the Mariners, who entered Thursday tied with the New York Mets for the major leagues’ worst record at 6-13.

Oakland mustered just five hits in losing the opener of a four-game series. After finishing with the Mariners, the A’s head to Anaheim for a three-game series against the hot Angels, who came into Thursday in sole possession of first place in the American League West.

The first-pitch temperature at Safeco Field was 51 degrees, and the A’s bats never thawed against Hernandez (2-2), who had thrown a five-hitter in Oakland on opening night. His two wins of the season are against the A’s, and he’s won 10 of his past 12 decisions against Oakland.

The Mariners — who came in ranked last in the American League with a .226 team batting average — didn’t fare much better against A’s starter Brandon McCarthy (1-1).

They didn’t need to.

McCarthy, a pleasant surprise for the A’s in the back of the rotation, was terrific once again, allowing just four hits in a

complete-game effort and seemingly getting stronger as the game went on.

His one mistake was all it took to doom the A’s.

Seattle first baseman Adam Kennedy hit a 3-1 pitch for a towering homer to right field for the game’s only run.

Kennedy, who hit .289 as a utility infielder for the A’s in 2009, teamed with another former Athletic, Jack Cust, as the Mariners’ 3-4 hitters on Thursday.

The A’s didn’t advance a runner as far as third base all night. And when they did hit the ball hard, they managed to make more outs.

After leadoff man Josh Willingham reached in the seventh, Ryan Sweeney hit a liner to third base, which Chone Figgins snagged and threw to first to double up Willingham easily.

A’s manager Bob Geren talked before the game of the importance of a seven-game road trip strictly against AL West foes.

“It’s an early run through the division, but you want to fare well,” Geren said. “It seems year to year whoever does best in the division ends up winning.”

Hernandez allowed four hits over 72/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three.

Willingham reached in the ninth on a leadoff single against Brandon League. He advanced to second on Sweeney’s groundout but was stranded there.

A’s first baseman Daric Barton was a late scratch from the lineup because of illness, though he struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.

Conor Jackson, originally scheduled to play left field, switched to first base, and Sweeney was inserted in left field.

Oakland could have used all the thump it could muster against Hernandez. But regular designated hitter Hideki Matsui was out of the lineup. Geren called it a regular day off for Matsui and that Matsui was fine physically.

Matsui came in 6 for 29 (.207) against Hernandez for his career. Willingham served as the DH.

LARRY LARUE; Staff writer | • Published ril 15, 2011

KANSAS CITY, MO. – Even after signing free-agent Jack Cust and installing him as the everyday designated hitter, Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik acknowledged the team lacked “that big bat” in the lineup.

Eleven games into the season, Cust – Plan A in the cleanup spot – is batting .175 without a home run and with four RBI.

Again Thursday night, manager Eric Wedge went with Plan B.

No, he didn’t move Milton Bradley. No, he didn’t move Justin Smoak.

Those two players are hitting well at No. 3 and No. 5 in the lineup, respectively, and Wedge said he doesn’t want to change what’s working. So the Mariners’ starting DH and cleanup hitter for Game 12 was Adam Kennedy.

“It’s something I can tell my grandkids,” Kennedy said, smiling.

Cust got the day off after going 3-for-20 during the Mariners’ first homestand, with nine strikeouts. He went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts on Wednesday.

Is he worried?

“It’s early, and in this game you’re not always going to hit well. You’re going to have bad stretches,” he said. “I don’t feel great at the plate, but I feel pretty good.”

Cust will be back in the lineup, probably tonight, but when he struggles the Mariners are exposed as a team without a productive heart-of-the-order hitter – one that worries an opposing pitcher.

Kennedy’s job?

“I’m not going to change my proach just because I’m hitting fourth for a game to give Jack a breather,” Kennedy said. “I know what I can do and how to best go about it.”

Kennedy, who made the team as a reserve infielder, played in eight games this season before Thursday, and batted .333 in 21 at-bats – with no RBI. However, he drove in a run Thursday night with a sacrifice fly in the eighth against the Royals.

GUTIERREZ STAYS DRY

Franklin Gutierrez will begin a quick minor league rehabilitation assignment tonight, but it won’t be in Tacoma.

Fearing bad weather might lead to rainouts at Cheney Stadium, the Mariners will send Gutierrez to Class A High Desert in the California League, where he’ll play three games and rejoin the team in Seattle on Monday.

What hpens after that depends entirely upon how Gutierrez feels.

David Aardsma, meanwhile, will pitch a two-inning simulated game in Kansas City today, and could be sent on a minor league assignment early next week at a site to be determined.

SHORT HOPS

Ichiro Suzuki made a little history when he singled in the third inning Thursday, then again in the fifth. That pushed his streak of consecutive multi-hit games in Kauffman Stadium to nine – tying the ballpark record held by George Brett since 1979. …The Mariners began this series with 49 walks, the one offensive category in which they led the American League. … Melky Cabrera made a marvelous running catch at the center field wall in the second inning, robbing Justin Smoak of extra bases when the game was scoreless.

ON T

Seattle and Kansas City play today at 5:10 p.m., a game Root Sports will televise. Probable starting pitchers: Seattle’s Erik Bedard (0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. Luke Hochevar (1-1, 5.30).

larry.larue@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/mariners

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners and reliever Manny Delcarmen have agreed to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

Seattle announced the deal on Thursday, making Delcarmen the 23rd non-roster invitee to the Mariners spring training camp. Mariners pitchers and catchers hold their first official workout on Monday.

Delcarmen, who turns 29 next week, is 11-8 with a 3.97 ERA in 298 career games with Boston and Colorado. The Red Sox traded the right-hander to the Rockies last year.

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners and reliever Manny Delcarmen have agreed to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.

Seattle announced the deal on Thursday, making Delcarmen the 23rd non-roster invitee to the Mariners spring training camp. Mariners pitchers and catchers hold their first official workout on Monday.

Delcarmen, who turns 29 next week, is 11-8 with a 3.97 ERA in 298 career games with Boston and Colorado. The Red Sox traded the right-hander to the Rockies last year.

NEWPORT BEACH, California – The Seattle Mariners aren’t giving up on Milton Bradley as the oft-troubled outfielder awaits a court pearance following his arrest in Los Angeles earlier this month.Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said on Thursday that the Mariners are moving forward with Bradley as part of their roster and expect him to arrive at spring training ready to compete for a job on the Mariners roster.Bradley was arrested earlier this month in his native Los Angeles and has a court pearance set for Feb. 8.”The legal issues are the legal issues. That’s something that takes care of itself,” Zduriencik said. “What we’re thinking about is, he’s coming in, he’s part of this organization, he’s going to compete for a job and let the pieces fall where they may.”Zduriencik said he spoke with Bradley the day after his Jan. 19 arrest on a felony charge. Bradley was released on $50,000 bail.New Seattle manager Eric Wedge knows Bradley from his days in Cleveland. He spoke at length about Bradley on Thursday, reiterating that Bradley is still part of the ball club and it’s his job to get the most out of Bradley.”People make mistakes. There are no perfect human beings out there. Do I agree with everything that has hpened? No. But right now, he’s still a part of this ball club and it’s my job where we get the most out of him,” Wedge said.The switch-hitter spent two weeks away from the Mariners in May to deal with emotional issues. He has played for eight clubs in 11 major league seasons marked by boorish behavior, suspensions and repeated run-ins with umpires and managers.During spring training last year, Bradley called himself the Kanye West of baseball. He was acquired by the Mariners from the Cubs in a December 2009 trade and has one season remaining on the $30 million, three-year contract he signed with Chicago.A right knee injury ended Bradley’s 2010 season in late July. He batted .205 with eight homers and 29 RBIs in 73 games for Seattle before undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in August.Mariners trainer Rick Griffin said Thursday that Bradley should be fully healthy when spring training begins in less than three weeks.”I’m curious to see how he comes into spring training prepared,” Zduriencik said. “One thing he did tell me was that the issue aside … He said he’s worked very hard. He wants to prove a point. He wants to come in and rebound from two years that were sub-par years. He’d like to come in and have a good year. Physically, he’s prepared himself. We’ll see what hpens in spring training.”