Piniella Likes Wolcott For Game 7

If there’s a Game 7 in the American League Championship Series, where do the Seattle Mariners go after Randy Johnson?

Would you believe Bob Wolcott?

Mariners manager Lou Piniella is said to be leaning toward the 22-year-old rookie, the unlikely Game 1 winner, over Tim Belcher.

“I’ll worry about Game 7 if we win Game 6,” Piniella said.

How big was Sunday night’s 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians? Instead of sending Johnson - who has shown signs of tiring - out on four days’ rest Wednesday, he must come back again on three days’ rest. Instead of having the luxury of trying a tandem of Wolcott and Belcher tonight, Piniella must depend on one for what would be the biggest game in the franchise’s history.

Game 7 is a little tricky for the Indians, too. Manager Mike Hargrove tentatively has announced Charles Nagy, who has pitched great in two postseason starts, but is 0-5 in the Kingdome, with a 6.82 ERA. In fact, he’s 0-9 lifetime in domes.

Hargrove also would have Ken Hill, who pitched seven innings of Saturday’s 7-0 victory, with three days’ rest.

Ready for Randy

Right-handed hitters Herbert Perry and Alvaro Espinoza will start tonight against the left-handed Johnson. Indians manager Mike Hargrove also used them against the Mariners ace Friday night, pulling first baseman Paul Sorrento and third baseman Jim Thome, both lefty hitters.

Along with hitting against Johnson, Omar Vizquel was thinking about bunting on the 6-foot-10 pitcher. Vizquel tried to bunt a fastball from Johnson in Game 3, but popped a foul that was caught.

“If you can get the bunt down, you’ve got a 90 percent chance you’ll get a hit,” Vizquel said. “But his fastball seems to rise, and it’s hard to keep a bunt down against him.”

Belle passes on BP

Albert Belle, forced to leave Game 6 early when his injured ankle acted up, did not take batting practice Monday during the Indians’ 75-minute workout at the Kingdome.

Belle stood in left field, rarely moving more than a couple of steps for balls hit his way. He seemed to be favoring his right ankle when he walked off the field.

The Indians’ most productive hitter started Sunday after watching Saturday’s game on crutches. But he went 0-for-3, struck out twice, dropped a fly ball and made a throwing error on the same play before coming out.

His status for tonight was not certain.

Maddux awaits

As expected, Braves manager Bobby Cox named three-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux as his starter for the opener of the World Series in Atlanta Saturday night, with Tom Glavine and John Smoltz following.

Cox hasn’t decided how to use Steve Avery.

Just in case they’re needed to hit in the World Series, pitchers from both teams have been taking batting practice during this series. The designated hitter is used in games played at the A.L. park, but pitchers must bat in games at the home of the N.L. champion.

Around the horn

Slider, the Indians’ fuzzy purple mascot, who tore up his right knee when he fell off the wall during Saturday night’s game, has been placed in a cast. He will undergo surgery in 10 days.

Through three games, ratings for the baseball playoffs were up 8 percent over two years ago. Friday’s night regional coverage of the third games on NBC got a 12.1 rating and a 22 share, Nielsen Media Research said.

The three-game national average is a 13.6 rating and a 23 share, up from a 12.6 rating and 21 share for the first three prime-time playoff telecasts in 1993. Ratings for Games 4 and 5 will be released today.