Mariners display what put them in cellar

SEATTLE – Searching for a reason the Seattle Mariners are 22-36 this season in games decided by two runs or less?

Look no further than the third inning Friday night, when a big defensive lapse fueled a four-run rally in the Tampa Bay Rays’ 5-3 victory over the Mariners at Safeco Field.

Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt’s throwing error led to an unearned run in that inning, but in reality it allowed two runs to score and put another Tampa Bay runner in position to score.

That, along with the Mariners’ inability to produce a big rally themselves despite opportunities in five of the nine innings, left starting pitcher Carlos Silva with another in a long line of losses.

That’s how close games are lost.

“Carlos threw the ball pretty good,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “He could have probably got out of that one inning with a lot less damage. But that’s baseball. It’s a part of the game.”

It’s certainly part of the game the Mariners have played a lot this season, and Betancourt’s play in the third inning was a classic representation.

Silva, 4-12 and without a victory since June 28, had allowed three straight one-out singles to give up a run that tied the score at 2.

Then Carl Crawford hit a sharp grounder to the right of Betancourt, who made a dazzling backhand stop. However, he flung the ball sidearm and it sailed well over first baseman Bryan LaHair and out of play.

Two runs scored, Crawford reached second and Betancourt twirled his glove in frustration. It was his team-leading 17th error.

It hurt worse when the next hitter, Carlos Pena, singled to center to score Crawford with the fourth run of the inning and 5-2 Rays lead.

The Mariners’ young hitters produced all their runs.

Wladimir Balentien displayed his double-deck power with a 424-foot home run off the face of the upper deck in left field, a two-run homer that gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead in the second inning.

After the Rays piled on four in the third, Bryan LaHair’s infield single scored Jeff Clement, who’d singled doubled with two outs.

Balentien, LaHair and Clement combined to go 5 for 12 with a homer, double and all three RBIs.

Tonight, the Mariners will throw another young player onto the field.

Ryan Rowland-Smith, the left-handed pitcher sent to Triple-A Tacoma last month to be stretched out as a starter, will get the ball. He replaces the struggling Miguel Batista, who was sent to the bullpen.

To make room for Rowland-Smith, the Mariners optioned right-handed reliever Jared Wells back to Tacoma.