MARINERS NOTEBOOK: Sexson begins reduced suspension

SEATTLE – The Mariners began life without first baseman Richie Sexson on Saturday when he began serving his suspension after Thursday night’s brawl with the Texas Rangers.

Major League Baseball heard Sexson’s case via conference call Saturday afternoon and cut his suspension by a game to five games.

Sexson was satisfied with the outcome and pleased to begin serving it immediately, although there was one possible drawback for the Mariners’ deprived offense. He has a career .400 batting average against Saturday’s Chicago White Sox starter, Javier Vazquez.

“It’s better to get it over with now,” Sexson said. “I don’t want to get hot in August and then have to serve the suspension.”

Sexson is batting .202 with seven home runs and 18 runs batted in.

He was in the clubhouse and worked out before the game, but stayed inside during the game. He’ll do the same today during the final game of the homestand and stay in Seattle and work out on his own when the Mariners play Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Texas.

Sexson said he expects no problems between the Mariners and Rangers when they get together again, although Felix Hernandez and Kason Gabbard, the two pitchers involved in the fracas Thursday, are scheduled to start Tuesday.

“Nothing’s going to happen there,” Sexson said. “It’s done.”

McLaren juggles lineup

M’s manager John McLaren said he would “mix and match” at first base while Sexson is out, and Miguel Cairo was the best fit for the first game.

There was more to McLaren’s lineup decision than replacing Sexson. He benched shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt in an effort to temper his free-swinging ways and moved second baseman Jose Lopez from second to fifth in the batting order.

“There was a lot of thought that went into the lineup,” McLaren said. “I thought we needed more punch in the middle, and that’s why we moved Lopez down.”

As for Betancourt, McLaren said he needed at least a game off after a series of poor at-bats. Betancourt had gone 2 for 20 on the homestand.

RIP with RISP

The Mariners entered the day batting .224 with runners in scoring position, including .189 with two outs. By contrast, the White Sox, whose .235 team batting average was last in the league, were batting .268 with runners in scoring position.

“We’ve reached a stage where it’s definitely a mental challenge,” McLaren said. “It’s not about mechanics.”

Notes

Sexson’s suspension means the Mariners will play with 24 players, and that has hampered an already difficult bench situation. Betancourt, backup catcher Jamie Burke and DH Jose Vidro comprised the bench on Saturday, and Vidro remains slowed by back spasms. … Phillippe Aumont, the Mariners’ first-round draft pick last year, hasn’t allowed an earned run in six appearances (17 2/3 innings) this season for Class A Wisconsin. He has 20 strikeouts.