Piniella Gives Slumping Sojo Start At 3rd Base

Although mired in one of the longest slumps of his career, Luis Sojo started at third Wednesday.

Sojo was just three for his last 40 at-bats (.075) entering Wednesday night’s game with Toronto.

His struggles have typified what has happened to whomever the Mariners have put at third this season.

Usually a position ticketed to produce big offensive numbers, the Seattle players on the “hot corner” haven’t come through.

Russ Davis, who inherited the starting spot out of spring training and is out with a broken leg, was hitting .234 and had driven in just 18 runs in his 51 games.

Now manager Lou Piniella expects Sojo to be part of the solution, but he and rookie Andy Sheets haven’t produced much, either.

Sojo had just seven runs batted in 146 at-bats entering Wednesday.

Making the lack of production at third tolerable has been the stellar play of shortstop Alex Rodriguez. His 12 homers and 44 RBIs have carried the infield.

Sojo will likely remain at third if he hits, according to Piniella, who saw a hit and RBI robbed from Sojo on a fantastic play by Toronto shortstop Alex Gonzalez Tuesday.

Ayala returns

It was shortly after arriving in Chicago on the Mariners last trip there that reliever Bobby Ayala badly cut his hand and ended up on the disabled list. Thursday, he’ll travel with Seattle to Chicago and be activated from the DL.

Ayala will be used in middle relief and likely will take the roster spot of Wednesday’s starter Tim Harikkala.

Unit to T-town?

Last season, it was Ken Griffey Jr. who made a brief appearance in Tacoma on an injury rehab assignment. It is possible that in the next few weeks, Randy Johnson could make an appearance or two with the Rainiers on a similar assignment. A decision could be made when Seattle returns from its current road trip. Johnson has been out for a month with a nerve problem in his back.

Minors watch

At the midway mark of the minor-league season, last year’s No. 1 pick, Jose Cruz Jr., was promoted from Class A Lancaster to AA Port City, as was Lancaster teammate Marcus Sturdivant. Greg Wooten, a 6-foot-7 right-hander from Portland State who was 7-1 with a 2.47 ERA at Class A Wisconsin, was bumped to Lancaster, the M’s top Class A club.