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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Wells Returns To Bullpen

Gary Brooks Tacoma News Tribune

Bob Wells has respectably filled a major hole in the Seattle Mariners’ starting rotation over the past two months.

But after struggling a bit in his 6-3 loss to Minnesota on Sunday, Wells (11-5) is headed back to the bullpen where he was 3-0 as a long reliever to start the season.

“He’s done a very good job for us,” manager Lou Piniella said. “We’re going to put him back in the bullpen, get some help in that area.”

Eliminate a stretch of batters in the fourth inning Sunday, and Wells would have faced the minimum through five innings.

Instead, with two outs in the fourth, five consecutive batters reached safely on a single, walk, double, intentional walk and a final single by Pat Meares that made it 3-0.

Wells went through the fifth 1-2-3, but left with two runners on and one out in the sixth.

The first pitch by Chris Bosio in relief was hammered to right by Greg Myers and Minnesota had all the runs it needed with its 4-0 lead .

Piniella said he isn’t ready to make any decisions on who will replace Wells in the rotation.

“We’ll play that by ear,” he said.

Ultimately, it will be Randy Johnson.

But Johnson is expected to make one more extended relief appearance in the Kansas City series that starts tonight before returning to a starting role.

Unless that appearance comes tonight, Johnson probably won’t be fully rested by the time Wells’ spot in the rotation comes around again. But, Johnson should be starting by next week.

Notes

Alex Rodriguez scored his 100th run of the season in Saturday’s loss. He is the sixth Mariner to achieve the feat in franchise history. Edgar Martinez set Seattle’s current record last season, scoring 115 times.

Rodriguez and Chuck Knoblauch went hitless Sunday. Rodriguez still leads the league in hitting at .359. Knoblauch fell to .356.

Paul Molitor had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 12 games and he scored three of Minnesota’s six runs.

Seattle had not lost six in a row since it lost seven in a row from July 24-31, 1994. The Mariners have dropped seven consecutive home games for the first time since July 18-24, 1992.

Ken Griffey Jr. drove a pitch into the upper deck in right field for the 11th time in his career Sunday. It has been done 56 times in Kingdome history.

Coming up

Jamie Moyer (8-1, 4.07 ERA) will try to make it three consecutive quality starts since joining the Mariners when he faces Kansas City ace Kevin Appier (10-7, 2.97). The 7:05 p.m. game will be televised on Prime Sports Northwest.