Not quite enough positives for M’s

SEATTLE – As the Seattle Mariners flipped to another page in their book of muscle tweaks – this time it was a strained groin to pitcher Miguel Batista – they learned something else Friday night.

Cha Seung Baek is alive and well as it turns out.

It didn’t get the Mariners a victory – the Oakland A’s milked a three-run first inning into a 4-3 victory at Safeco Field when the M’s misfired on late scoring opportunities – but they rediscovered a pitcher.

Working on 11 days’ rest since a disappointing spot start against the Angels, Baek pitched six nearly flawless innings in relief of Batista. Problem was, the Mariners never overcame Batista’s poor start – three hits, four walks and a wild pitch in the first inning.

He wasn’t any better in the second, walking Kurt Suzuki to start the inning before he couldn’t pitch any further. Batista had suffered what the Mariners said was a mild strain of his right groin.

This week, the Mariners lost right fielder Brad Wilkerson (tight hamstring), pitcher Carlos Silva (tight thigh) and now Batista to injuries. Wilkerson and Silva appear to be well again; Batista’s condition won’t be known until he’s examined today.

Baek took over and did what Batista couldn’t.

He got ahead in the count and kept the A’s off balance, allowing only a leadoff double to Emil Brown and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Sweeney in the third inning, when the A’s pushed their lead to 4-1.

“Baek did a great job,” Mariners manager John McLaren said. “A lot of things have been said about him, but he’s our long guy and he just didn’t have an opportunity to pitch.”

Baek got better the longer he worked, retiring 15 consecutive batters before leaving after the seventh. Mark Lowe, one day after he gave up two RBI hits and a sacrifice fly against the Orioles, followed Baek with two scoreless innings.

Baek and Lowe gave the Mariners a chance to come back, which they did, to an extent.

They’d scored once in the bottom of the first inning on back-to-back singles by Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Lopez, then Raul Ibanez’s sacrifice fly.

Then they loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth against A’s starter Dana Eveland. Two of those runners scored on sacrifice flies by Jose Vidro and Richie Sexson, pulling the Mariners within a run.

The Mariners managed several more opportunities but no more runs.

Lopez, who finished with four hits, and Ibanez hit back-to-back singles in the seventh with two outs before Adrian Beltre flied out to end the inning.

Leading off the eighth, Vidro reached on shortstop Bobby Crosby’s throwing error and, after Sexson struck out, pinch hitter Greg Norton and Wilkerson drew walks to load the bases. Yuniesky Betancourt ended that one quickly, hitting a grounder to shortstop, where Crosby started a double play.

“We had something going there and we swung at a bad pitch,” McLaren said. “That’s been our Achilles’ heel for a long time, runners on third base and less than two outs. Some of the guys want to do so well that they lose focus. The other teams know this.”

Ichiro gave the M’s a chance in the ninth, working a leadoff walk against A’s closer Huston Street. Lopez, however, pop out on a sacrifice bunt attempt and Ibanez hit a fly to center.

Ichiro stole second base to get into scoring position, and Beltre hit a sharp grounder that seemed headed for center field.

That’s when Crosby made a headlong dive to his left to snag the ball before he recovered and threw out Beltre by a step at first base.