Mariners notebook: McClendon doesn’t see pressing in 3-game slide

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Mariners’ offense has managed to put together just one run in the last 21 innings. The collective slump is tough for everyone, but manager Lloyd McClendon says he has yet to see his team pressing at the plate.

“They’re not tight, they’re just going through a funk,” he said in his pregame meeting with the media. “Just have to keep battling, fight through it. The Oakland A’s went through it. It happens. We’ve just got to keep fighting and grinding it out.”

McClendon went on to say that effort has not been an issue in the recent struggle.

“They are giving me everything they have got,” he said. “It’s been a grind. My second baseman is the best second baseman in baseball. He’s so tired he couldn’t even bend over to get a ground ball. It’s a grind. We are almost there.”

McClendon has done his best to keep the outside pressure off of his team and pointed to the fact that in March most would have been happy to see Seattle in contention in the last weeks of September.

“You’ve got to keep things in perspective, you have got to look at the big picture. Our guys have had a fantastic run,” McClendon said. “We don’t want to look down that road because it was a little shaky at times. We can see the finish line and we are going to keep charging right ahead.”

First thing is first. The Mariners need to put an end to the three-game losing streak.

“Three in a row anytime is a bad time. We just got to come out of it. That’s all. It’s tough. Nobody likes it,” McClendon said.

Lineup!

Austin Jackson, 8
Dustin Ackley, 7
Robinson Cano, 4
Kyle Seager, 5
Kendrys Morales, DH
Logan Morrison, 3
Endy Chavez, 9
Mike Zunino, 2
Chris Taylor, 6

Roenis Elias

Notes

• Dustin Ackley is in the lineup for the second straight game. He told me that the ankle responded last night as he hoped and expected it to and that it continues to improve.

• Roenis Elias is making his 29th start of the season. At 165.2 innings (which includes the five he threw in Tacoma), Elias he has thrown more innings than he has in any professional season and his 160.2 innings are the second most for a rookie this year. Back in spring training, McClendon said that his concern with Elias would be that his walks – which were the one knock against him in the minors – could go up in the majors. Interestingly enough, his walk rate this year is exactly the same as it was last year in Double-A.

• Losing their ace did not slow down the Angels at all. Since Garrett Richard went down, the team has gone 20-6.

• The probables for the series with the Astros have been announced. Friday: Chris Young vs. Brad Peacock. Saturday: Hisashi Iwakuma vs. Dallas Keuchel. Sunday: Roenis Elias vs. Collin McHugh.

Related

Cole Young powers Mariners past Astros 10-5 with HR, 4 RBIsMariners Notebook: Brock Rodden’s impressive debut; new pitcher claimedUW Huskies unveil new all-black alternate football uniformsSeattle Sports Radio Info: How to find Saturday’s Seahawks, Mariners gamesSeahawks WR Tory Horton elaborates on last year’s ‘weird’ injuryReport: Seahawks make Devon Witherspoon NFL’s highest-paid CB