Snell’s time may be over

ARLINGTON, Texas – A composed-sounding Ian Snell talked about holding his head high, something pitchers try to do when they’re on their way out of a game and headed for the showers.

But in Snell’s case, the beating he absorbed in a 12-2 loss taken by the Mariners on Wednesday night will likely result in a far more serious exit from the starting rotation and possibly the team. It became clear in watching Snell give up eight runs – seven earned – in just 1 2/3 innings against the Texas Rangers that he can no longer be trusted to take the ball every fifth day.

It remains to be seen whether the M’s will attempt to keep working with Snell in a bullpen role, or designate him for assignment as they try to repair a season going up in flames.

“I sucked it up out there and nobody can blame this on (anyone) but myself. I can take this on myself,” Snell said. “Just keep my head held high, keep going after it. It’s still a long season, and things can turn around.”

The problem is, the Mariners likely won’t want to wait for that turnaround at the risk of Snell punting away every fifth game. Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu, who knows his team has to start winning before he is held accountable, said that Snell’s status will be reviewed over the next day or two.

Wakamatsu may have found Snell’s rotation replacement in Luke French, who came on and tossed 5 1/3 frames of four-run ball in his first prolonged stint since being recalled from Triple-A last weekend.

“Possibly,” Wakamatsu said of French joining the rotation. “It was his first long outing up here, and we were able to stretch him out. It gives us that option.”

French had little doubt what his job was when the team called on him. “Just to get outs,” he said. “To pick up your teammates. Just go out there and get as many outs as you can and when you’re done, you’re done.”

The Mariners opened the scoring, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Jose Lopez and Josh Wilson off Rangers starter C.J. Wilson.

But Snell gave two runs right back in the bottom of the first on a Michael Young home run and a Vladimir Guerrero double. Then, in the second, the Rangers launched a two-out, six-run rally when Young muscled a 0-2 hanging slider into center field for an RBI single.

Snell was asked whether his game might have gone differently had he not served the two-strike, 83 mph pitch right across the middle of the plate.

“No, to tell you the truth, I don’t think any pitch would have made a difference,” he said. “He got the bat on the ball and they found a spot in the outfield and that’s how it was all night for us.”

Rangers 12, Mariners 2