Mariners notebook: For Seattle, final series is truly one game at a time

With their playoff chances slim but alive, the perhaps re-energized Mariners can only focus on the game in front of them.

BY SHANNON DRAYER

Sep 26, 2014, 7:01 PM Updated: Sep 30, 2014, 12:46 pm

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Michael Saunders: "The biggest thing for us is knowing we have an opportunity with three games left." (AP)

(AP)

The good news is the road trip is over. The Mariners returned home at about 10:30 last night and it was clear that the win that day gave them a boost.

“My guys have been resilient all year, they’ve done a pretty good job,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “Getting off the plane you saw they were pretty energized. I don’t know where they find the energy from because I dragged off the plane, but they did pretty good.”

While it has never been used as an excuse, it was good to finally hear McClendon point out the impact the September schedule has had on the Mariners. This road trip was brutal. Brutal in miles, time zones, direction and start times. We won’t even talk about the one day off in the month of September. No team should have to play a night game and then travel to another city, arrive at 6 a.m. and play again that day. Not in September or any month. The Mariners almost had to do it twice as the finale in Toronto was originally a 7 p.m. start.

Impossible to say that didn’t have an impact. Staying up all night and then sleeping from 6 to noon stays with you for a couple of days. Sure, it is your job to fight through it, but in a game that is about split-second reactions it might be impossible to get back to the needed 100 percent.

With all that said, as McClendon said above the team does appear to have more energy today. A win keeps them alive for at least another day.

“That’s the biggest thing for us is knowing we have an opportunity with three games left,” outfielder Michael Saunders said before the game. “That being said, we can’t be scoreboard watching because we need to take care of our business to even have a chance. Just looking up at the scoreboard and seeing if Oakland is up or down, that puts more pressure on us. I think if we go out there and take care of our business, very cliché, but take it one game at a time. We have to worry about (pitcher Jered) Weaver and the Angels tonight, and we will worry about whoever is throwing tomorrow.”

Throwing for the Mariners will be Hisashi Iwakuma, who is coming off a stretch where he has allowed four or more earned runs in each of his last six games. He has admitted that he has not been comfortable on the mound in finding his “balance” of late, and McClendon also revealed recently that he has been battling slight groin and back issues.

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know,” McClendon answered when asked what he was expecting from Iwakuma tonight. “His last three outings have not been very good. I’m anxious to see what he is going to bring to the table. I know he’s very determined and he wants to do well. We’ll see. Hopefully he’s feeling good.”

Lineup!

Austin Jackson, 8
Dustin Ackley, 7
Robinson Cano, 4
Kyle Seager, 5
Kendrys Morales, DH
Logan Morrison, 3
Michael Saunders, 7
Mike Zunino, 2
Chris Taylor, 6

Hisashi Iwakuma

Notes

• Despite the bullpen start yesterday, McClendon said everyone is available today. Most did not pitch more than one inning and this time of year it is all hands on deck.

• The Angels have made a change in their rotation and will throw C.J. Wilson Saturday instead of Cory Rasmus. Sunday is TBA.

• The Mariners’ minor-league awards were announced today. DJ Peterson and Jordy Lara took Player of the Year honors, Patrick Kivlehan won the Unsung Hero Award, Ketel Marte won the Hart & Soul Award, Jordan Pries and Edwin Diaz were Pitchers of the Year and Matt Brazis was named Relief Pitcher of the Year.

• The BBWAA awards were also handed out. Robinson Cano took MVP, Felix Hernandez Most Valuable Pitcher, and Chris Young Unsung Hero.