Mariners have that sinking feeling

MINNEAPOLIS – This is looking ominously familiar for Mariners fans.

After starting the season with a stirring victory, Seattle has gone on to lose two in a row to the Twins in Minnesota, the latest a 6-5 loss Wednesday night.

Justin Morneau homered and drove in three runs and Jason Kubel hit a tiebreaking double in the fifth inning for the Twins in a disappointing first start for Mariners sinkerballer Carlos Silva.

After Ken Griffey Jr.’s homer and a 6-1 victory on opening night that prompted a mini-celebration in the clubhouse, problems from 2008 have already resurfaced in the past two games.

Minnesota’s three-run rally Tuesday against new closer Brandon Morrow served as a reminder of the team record of 31 blown saves set last year.

Then Silva, that $48 million, four-year contract still weighing heavily on his broad shoulders despite the 35 pounds he shed while doing yoga and changing his diet during the winter, fell behind 2-0 after the first inning and 4-2 after two.

Morneau hit a changeup a half-dozen rows into the upper deck, and Denard Span sent one soaring over the folded-up football seats above right field. Both were two-run shots.

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu tried to point out the positives with Silva, but he wasn’t happy with the pitch selection or location on the two home runs.

“If he throws those down, it’s a different story,” Wakamatsu said. “He came out and competed. We have to be somewhat pleased.”

After Twins starter Kevin Slowey gave the lead back to Seattle 5-4 in the top of the fourth, Morneau made a headfirst dive for a two-out double that tied it at 5 in the fifth. Kubel followed with a double that scooted down the right-field line to drive in Morneau and put Minnesota back in front.

Wakamatsu has implored the emotional, excitable Silva to use his head more than his heart, but even against his former team this was more about hittable pitches in the wrong places. The right-hander, who spent four seasons and made 124 starts with the Twins, gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings.

“I felt great,” he said. “Besides the two changeups, I don’t take anything back. The sinker was working really well. The two homers with two changes are the only two I’d take away. I got a lot of ground balls.”

After 17 rather lackluster innings by their lineup, the Twins came back in the ninth Tuesday with three two-out runs. They maintained their momentum at the plate with six extra-base hits in this one.

Morneau and Span hit two-run homers, and Craig Breslow and Jesse Crain held the lead for Joe Nathan, who notched his first save – and his 200th with Minnesota.

He wouldn’t have had the chance were it not for the way Slowey recovered from a three-run fourth to retire the last seven batters he faced.

The M’s had one hit the last five innings.

Russell Branyan and Jose Lopez hit long home runs and Yuniesky Betancourt went 3 for 4 for Seattle.

Slowey struck out five without a walk, after allowing five runs on nine hits over six innings in getting the victory.

Notes

Minnesota catcher Mike Redmond sat out for the second straight game because of a pulled groin muscle, but insisted he was ready. Gardenhire preferred caution: “To his satisfaction, he’s fine. To mine, he still hasn’t cleared yet.” … Ichiro Suzuki has been cleared to begin playing in his comeback from a bleeding ulcer that caused severe fatigue. Ichiro will be the designated hitter in an extended spring training game with minor leaguers in Arizona today. Wakamatsu said that Ichiro will play a total of three games before being re-evaluated. He’ll either join the Mariners in Oakland this weekend or travel straight to Seattle.

Twins 6, Mariners 5

LOB – Seattle 5, Minnesota 4. 2B – Beltre (2), Betancourt (1), Cuddyer (1), Morneau (1), Kubel (1), Gomez (1). HR – JLopez (1), off Slowey; Span (1), off Silva; Branyan (1), off Slowey; Morneau (1), off Silva. RBIs – Branyan 2 (2), JLopez (4), Betancourt (1), Span 2 (4), Morneau 3 (3), Kubel (1). SB – EnChavez (2). S – EnChavez. GIDP – Beltre. RLISP – Seattle 3 (EnChavez, FGutierrez, Griffey Jr.); Minnesota 1 (Crede). RMU – Casilla. DP – Minnesota 1 (Crede, ACasilla and Morneau).

IBB – off Jakubauskas (Morneau) 1. WP – Silva, Slowey. T – 2:34. A – 22,270 (46,632).