Mariners notebook: Another lineup twist with Robinson Cano hitting 4th

DETROIT – Robinson Cano will hit cleanup for the first time as a Mariner Monday night. While the move was made mainly to get Nelson Cruz into the 3 spot and to split up the lefties at the top, the skipper was looking for another upside as well.

“Maybe it will jumpstart us,” Lloyd McClendon said, repeating a phrase we have heard countless times this year.

For his part, Cano said he will do nothing different.

“Four is no different than 3,” he said when asked if he would be looking to power up at cleanup.

Cano has been hitting better of late – in fact the entire team has been hitting better, coming in with a .258 average in July, good for sixth in the American League for the month. The problem remains hitting with runners in scoring position, which they are a woeful .198 for the month; they were 1 for 13 in the Yankees series.

Monday they head into a park where they have had recent success. The Mariners are 11-6 over their last 17 games at Comerica Park and have averaged 5.3 runs per game over that stretch.

Lineup!

Brad Miller, SS
Kyle Seager, 3B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Robinson Cano, 2B
Seth Smith, LF
Austin Jackson, CF
Mark Trumbo, DH
Logan Morrison, 1B
Mike Zunino, C

J.A. Happ, LHP

Notes

• J.A. Happ was recalled from Bakersfield Monday morning. He has been with the team on this road trip and been able to stick to his regular routine.

“I fully expect him to go nine innings, allow two hits and shut them out,” said McClendon when asked if there were any limitations for Happ in his first game out of the break. “And I think we have a chance to win it.”

• Charlie Furbush and James Paxton threw from 105 feet today at Safeco Field. The hope is Furbush will be able to throw a bullpen on Wednesday or Thursday.

• Canada beat Team USA 7-6 in the gold-medal game of the Pan Am games last night in Toronto. Mariners prospect Patrick Kivlehan, who was a member of the US team, hit .342 over the tournament and led the team in home runs with three. Tyler O’Neil, who is currently with Bakersfield, hit three home runs for Team Canada, and Jordy Lara, who played for the Dominican Republic, had a home run.

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