SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have designated for assignment backup outfielder Justin Ruggiano to clear a roster spot for the addition of reserve catcher Jesus Sucre from Triple-A Tacoma.

SEATTLE – Can power-hitter Mark Trumbo ignite the Seattle Mariners’ run-starved attack? The Mariners and their fans are about the find out.

SEATTLE – Were the Seattle Mariners sailing along in line with expectations, getting dazzled Wednesday afternoon by Masahiro Tanaka in a 3-1 loss at Safeco Field might be fairly easy to shake off. Even getting swept in three games by the New York Yankees, as also happened, might be viewed as a blip, albeit an unwelcome one, that occurs occasionally in the grind of a six-month season.

SEATTLE — In need of a spark for its struggling offense, the Seattle Mariners took a significant step in trying to avoid completely falling out of the AL West race.

SEATTLE — It’s quickly becoming the soundtrack to the Seattle Mariners underachieving season. Another day of missed opportunities. Another game where a slumping offense can’t help strong starting pitching.

SEATTLE – As theater, this was great stuff Tuesday at Safeco Field. Not particularly great or clean baseball, but entertaining. The end, though, brought only more heartbreak for Seattle’s fading Mariners. Victory slipped away when Fernando Rodney couldn’t hold a one-run lead in the ninth inning and defeat arrived in the 11th: Garrett Jones hit a three-run homer that lifted the New York Yankees to a 5-3 victory.

SEATTLE – If it gets worse than this for the Seattle Mariners, then look out. On Monday, even the weather and their own ballpark seemed to conspire against them in a 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees. Felix Hernandez didn’t even make it through the fifth inning, a five-run fifth inning, despite powering through the first three frames in a mere 21 pitches.

SEATTLE – Dominic Leone sat facing into his locker in another silent Mariners clubhouse following a 6-3 loss in 12 innings to the Cleveland Indians on Sunday. He lowered his head and buried his dark, curly hair into his hands.