HOUSTON — The four-game skid in Houston prompted the first in a series of roster moves before the Seattle Mariners departed for Anaheim.
Relievers Yoervis Medina and Tyler Olson were optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. Manager Lloyd McClendon said corresponding moves will be made prior to Monday’s series opener against the Angels.
“Medina was elevating quite a bit,” McClendon said. “We need to get some things straightened out, and it’s hard to get it straightened out here in the big leagues. It’s just almost impossible.
“Both of those kids need to go down and get a couple of things straightened out, and they’ll be fine.”
Medina had seven walks in 12 innings over 12 appearances, but he had only allowed four earned runs for a 3.00 ERA. Olson was 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA after allowing eight runs and 18 hits in 131⁄3 innings in 11 games.
While not confirmed by club officials, signs pointed to shortstop Chris Taylor and lefty reliever Joe Beimel being promoted from Triple-A Tacoma.
Taylor, 24, is batting .313 with two homers and six RBIs in 21 games for the Rainiers. He was battling Brad Miller for duty as the club’s starting shortstop in spring training before he suffered a broken wrist on March 13.
Beimel, 38, has three scoreless outings covering 32⁄3 innings since his April 25 activation.
The Mariners signed him to a minor-league contract on April 2 after he was released by Texas. He compiled a 2.20 ERA in 56 outings last season for the Mariners before departing as a free agent.
Smith’s streak ends
Carson Smith’s club-record scoreless streaks ended in the worst way: He gave up a game-winning homer to Evan Gattis in the eighth inning on a line drive that barely cleared the left-field wall.
“I had my fingers crossed (it would hit the wall),” Smith said. “I didn’t know if it had the height or not. It was hit well, and it cleared by a few feet.”
Smith had made 20 scoreless appearances in his career prior to Sunday and, by working a one-two-three seventh inning, had a streak of 19 1/3 scoreless innings before Gattis’ homer.
Wilhelmsen update
Reliever Tom Wilhelmsen reported “no issues” after throwing a 35-pitch bullpen session prior to Sunday’s game in the latest step in his recovery from a hyperextended right elbow.
“I threw everything,” he said. “It went well.”
Tentative plans call for Wilhelmsen to throw a simulated game — i.e., he will face hitters under game-like conditions — on Wednesday in Anaheim. He could then depart on a brief minor-league rehab assignment.
“Just one (rehab game) maybe,” McClendon said. “He won’t need much time. He’s a reliever.”
Sunday was Wilhelmsen’s second bullpen workout in three days after not throwing from the mound since April 10 in Oakland. He suffered the injury the following day in a pre-game conditioning workout.
Tentative plans call for Wilhelmsen to throw a simulated game — i.e., he will face hitters under game-like conditions — on Wednesday in Anaheim. He could then depart on a brief minor-league rehab assignment.
One or the other
Here’s a great stat to indicate the Mariners’ struggles:
When in 11 games when their offense produces four or more runs of support, the pitching staff has a 5.76 ERA and has allowed 17 homers. They are 5-6 in those games.
In 14 games when their offense produced less than four runs, their pitching staff has a 3.23 ERA and has allowed eight home runs. They are 5-9 in those games.
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