Blast from Bloomquist sparks M’s

Willie Bloomquist was just hoping to get the ball out of the infield.

He did much more than that.

Bloomquist sent a pitch from Mike Maroth over the shortened fence in left field for his first homer in more than 13 months — a go-ahead three-run shot in the fifth inning — to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in Detroit.

“I guess you can say I missed it — I was trying to hit a line drive,” Bloomquist said. “The third baseman was in and I was trying to hit something past him. I got it up in the air, and it went out.”

Bloomquist’s other homer was a grand slam on July 13, 2003, against Tampa Bay.

“It’s been a while,” he said. “Any time I can do that, it feels good.”

Gil Meche (4-5) allowed three runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings, helping Seattle avoid a three-game sweep. He has won three straight starts after winning just once in his first 12 starts.

“He’s been outstanding,” Seattle manager Bob Melvin said. “He tightened up his repertoire a little — he bagged his slider and is going fastball, change, curve.”

J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for his third save, retiring pinch-hitter Ivan Rodriguez on a hard liner to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki with runners on first and second and two outs.

Brandon Inge reached on Jose Lopez’s fielding error at shortstop, and Rondell White hit a pinch-hit single to put runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth. Rodriguez, 4 for 5 with an RBI on Saturday, hit a sinking liner that Suzuki was able to catch on the run.

Schmidt’s start pushed back

Giants All-Star pitcher Jason Schmidt, bothered by a sore groin, had his next start pushed back four days as a precautionary move.

Schmidt threw off flat ground before the Giants game against the Mets on Sunday, and then went inside to throw about 15 pitches off the mound in the indoor batting cage. Schmidt, who leads the majors with a 2.52 ERA, was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday but instead will return next Saturday.

“It’s just one of those things where he is on the edge,” Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti said. “He was fine with playing catch. This is just precautionary.”

Left-hander Wayne Franklin will take Schmidt’s place Tuesday in Florida.

Wrigley in need of permanent fix

The protective netting in place to protect fans from falling concrete at Wrigley Field must be replaced with a permanent solution if the Chicago Cubs want to play at the stadium next spring.

Building Commissioner Stan Kaderbek said at a news conference Saturday that the most recent inspections at the 90-year-old ballpark had not uncovered any surprises. The city, however, will not decide until noon today on whether the Cubs will be allowed to play their home game tonight when they are scheduled to host the Milwaukee Brewers.

Wood, Baker, Oswalt tossed

Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, manager Dusty Baker and Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt were ejected Sunday during the game between the N.L. Central rivals.

Wood was ejected for hitting Jeff Kent with a pitch on the left arm. The right-hander had already hit two other Astros — Mike Lamb and Carlos Beltran.

Plate umpire Bill Hohn threw Wood out of the game, and the two argued. Baker came out to argue the ejection and was also tossed by Hohn.

Oswalt was also tossed from the game in the third for hitting Michael Barrett in the back after allowing a three-run homer to Aramis Ramirez.

Clearing the bases

Devil Rays All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford (bruised shoulder) and infielder Aubrey Huff (back spasms) were both out of the starting lineup against Oakland. The Devil Rays also will call up LHP Scott Kazmir from Double-A Montgomery to make his major league debut today in Seattle. … Frank Catalanotto will be lost to the Blue Jays for the rest of the year after deciding to have season-ending surgery on his strained groin.

Left-hander Sterling Hitchcock left the Padres game against the Marlins after straining his left elbow. The Padres also purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Marty McLeary from Triple-A Portland and sent down utility player Brian Buchanan. … The Royals designated outfielder Ruben Mateo for assignment and purchased the contract of first baseman Calvin Pickering from Triple-A Omaha.