Marlins make quick work of M’s

SEATTLE – The first sign of trouble from R.A. Dickey was the flat knuckleball he threw in the first inning Wednesday night when he gave up two hits and a run.

The last sign of trouble was when that flat knuckler sailed out of Safeco Field in the third inning.

That two-run homer by Mike Jacobs, along with another short outing from Dickey, helped launch the Florida Marlins’ 8-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Dickey fluttered more than his knuckleball for the second time in five days, allowing six hits and five runs in 32/3 innings, a performance that throws the Mariners into a pitching predicament.

Does Dickey remain in the starting rotation?

Or should right-hander Miguel Batista, who has had his own problems pitching deep into games this season, return?

McLaren didn’t hesitate on those questions, saying Dickey would start again when his turn comes up Tuesday against the Mets in New York.

Maybe the Mariners should check the weather report before deciding that, because McLaren and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre actually talked about the possible effect the cool weather in Seattle has had on Dickey’s knuckleball in his two starts.

“I’m not sure if it’s the air and the way the wind’s blowing,” McLaren said. “Mel and I were talking about it. It seems like in the humid air it works better and in the cool air it doesn’t. It’s kind of new to us.”

What isn’t new is another sluggish night by the Mariners’ offense.

They actually outhit the Marlins 13-11 but scored only in the first, fourth and eighth innings – single runs each time.

It was a vast difference from the patience and power that the Marlins showed. They drew 10 walks and produced four of their runs on two-run home runs by Jacobs and Dan Uggla, along with three other extra-base hits that led to three runs.

The Mariners drew three walks, two by newly called-up catcher Jeff Clement and one by Raul Ibanez, and had only one extra-base hit when Adrian Beltre doubled in the fourth inning.

Richie Sexson hit the ball hard three times but finished 1 for 4 with an eight-inning single. He lined out to second in the second inning, grounded sharply into a double play in the fourth and struck out in the sixth against Marlins rookie Ryan Tucker, who made his third career start.

“We got a lot of hits, but we just couldn’t put some big innings together,” McLaren said. “You’d like to have some power with some guys on base. We love the three-run homer, believe me. That and the double play, those are our favorite friends.”

He also could add a long outing by his starting pitcher.

In contrast to Felix Hernandez’s eight-inning gem Tuesday night, Dickey struggled from the beginning and was out of the game after he gave up a hit and a walk in the fourth.

“Dickey had a tough time with his release point,” McLaren said. “He pitched out of a couple of jams but it finally caught up to him. It’s a whole new ballgame when you’ve got to go to our bullpen that early.”

By the time the relievers took over, the Mariners trailed 5-1.

Ryan Rowland-Smith followed Dickey for 21/3 innings and gave up two hits, including Uggla’s 21st homer of the season in the sixth. Mark Lowe pitched two scoreless innings and Roy Corcoran gave up a run in the ninth – like it really mattered by then.

The Mariners finished the homestand 1-5, lost a series for the fifth time in six series, and fly off into more uncertain territory.

They begin a nine-game interleague road trip Friday at Atlanta, continuing their attempt to revive the offense with the added element of pitchers hitting.

Ichiro move explained

McLaren explained why he moved Ichiro Suzuki from center field to right. Just then, the superstar himself descended the dugout steps to get his bat and helmet for batting practice.

“Right field, huh?” McLaren shouted. Ichiro flashed a big smile, then said, “It’s my yard.”

Ichiro started his third straight game in right field Wednesday and seems thrilled to be back.

McLaren insists there were no orders from high in the organization to move Ichiro to right, where he played so well for 51/2 seasons before moving to center after Jeremy Reed was injured during the 2006 season.

“I’d had this idea for a while,” McLaren said. “It’s not that he can’t play center, but he’s the best right fielder in baseball. I’ve always thought that at some point, that’s where he belongs.”

When McLaren presented the plan to Ichiro when the Mariners returned home from their trip to Boston and New York in late May, he braced himself for a reaction.

“As soon as the question was presented to him and I saw his eyes, I knew it was right,” McLaren said. “When his eyes lit up, there was no explanation (needed).”

McLaren also said that he would have made the move even if Ichiro hadn’t been enthusiastic about it. That’s the new approach with this team, which has a can’t-be-worse mentality when it comes to trying new things.

“I can’t put it any simpler than this: Things hadn’t been working,” McLaren said. “We like to show respect, but we’re going to do stuff with or without approval from the other side.”

He believes Ichiro had begun to wear down from having so much territory to cover, especially at spacious Safeco Field. Ichiro roamed both gaps and beyond, often fielding balls that the corner outfielders could have reached.

“That’s a big chore out there to cover that ground,” McLaren said. “Over the two years I’ve been here, he takes so many balls out there that I think the two other guys, whoever they are, they think that he’s got everything. Well, he doesn’t have it. This way, it takes a little pressure off that.

“Everybody’s got their turf out there; go get it.”

Putz throws

Seven days after he went on the disabled list with triceps irritation in his right arm, closer J.J. Putz played catch for the first time since he was hurt.

Putz hadn’t been allowed to throw a ball until he was re-examined on Monday, and he was cleared to begin a throwing program Wednesday.

“We’re starting very slow,” trainer Rick Griffin said. “It’s a progressive throwing program.”

Putz will increase the distance of his throws until he’s beyond 120 feet, then move to flat-ground bullpen sessions and, if all goes well, full bullpen work off the mound.

Griffin said there’s no timetable for his return.