Mariners notebook: Hisashi Iwakuma resumes throwing

The Mariners arrived back in town at about 8 p.m. Wednesday and are back on the field tonight for the opener of their four-game series with the Indians.

Coming off the road trip and still 12 days from their next off day, manager Lloyd McClendon did not schedule batting practice on the field. There was optional infield practice and players could hit in the cages so there was a good amount of work that still was done before the game.

Arriving home we saw the welcome sight of Hisashi Iwakuma throwing a baseball. Iwakuma has been playing catch since May 23 and today was his third straight day throwing. So far, so good. No setbacks, but the big step of getting back on the mound has yet to be scheduled and possibly won’t happen until the team goes on the road again as McClendon said he’d be surprised if Iwakuma was able to do so in the next 7-9 days.

Still, this is progress.

The Mariners’ lineup has a twist as Robinson Cano is out with flu-like symptoms.

Lineup!

Austin Jackson, CF
Seth Smith, RF
Nelson Cruz, DH
Kyle Seager, 3B
Logan Morrison, 1B
Brad Miller, 2B
Dustin Ackley, LF
Chris Taylor, SS
Mike Zunino, C

James Paxton, LHP

Notes

• Felix Hernandez gave the Mariners’ six-man bullpen a day off Wednesday by throwing a complete game. The Mariners won’t go too much longer without adding a reliever but McClendon said a roster move would probably not happen in the next day or two.

• Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager at 3-4-5 in the lineup have combined to go 83 for 279 (.297) with 11 doubles, 15 home runs and 40 RBIs this month.

• Seager’s bat has heated up. Although his 12-game hit streak came to an end Wednesday against Tampa Bay, he hit .353/.389/.735/1.124 on the road trip.