Players grateful for break

After the 88th game, the Mariners will rest.

A week ago, the Mariners reached the halfway point of the season in Boston. Sunday, they arrived at a more important juncture: the final game before the All-Star break.

As joyous as this season has been for everybody on this team, it’s hard to find anyone who’s not looking forward to three days off before the real fun begins.

Closer David Aardsma flew home to Scottsdale, Ariz., where he and his wife will spend three days looking for a new house with a bigger yard for themselves and their year-old boxer, Scooby.

Jarrod Washburn will go home to Wisconsin, where he’ll check on the herd of deer that he manages on his property, and spend quality time with family and fishing.

Reliever Roy Corcoran and his wife will unwind at a cabin on the Snohomish River.

Ken Griffey Jr. flew to Cincinnati, where his daughter is playing in a basketball tournament, and will meet the Mariners on Thursday when they begin a series at Cleveland.

And manager Don Wakamatsu, pitcher Felix Hernandez and right fielder Ichiro Suzuki left after Sunday’s game for St. Louis, where they’ll represent the Mariners at the All-Star game.

What Wakamatsu wants most is for everyone enjoys the break and that Ichiro, especially, gets some good rest.

“Ichiro is at the point right now where I hope he’s able to relax over the All-Star break,” Wakamatsu said. “He’s running a little low on energy.”

Kirby Arnold, Everett Herald