Morrison out, then in, Friday night’s lineup
SEATTLE – First baseman Logan Morrison extended his hitting streak to 12 games Friday night, batting at the top of the lineup after getting scratched Thursday because of back pain.
“It just tightened up on me,” Morrison said. “Got stiff. I’m not sure why. I was just swinging in the cage, and I felt some pain in lower back. I tried to get it loosened up, but it just wasn’t loosening up.
“They gave me some medicine and some patches to put on it.
“Everything feels good.”
Morrison is on a 15-for-45 run (.333) over his last 12 games, boosting his average from .219 to .246 in that span. He replaced center fielder Austin Jackson as the leadoff hitter.
Jackson, who later entered Friday’s game, wasn’t in the starting lineup because of a sprained right ankle.
Who’s on first?
Mark Trumbo has spent more time at first base than any other position in his six-year career, but he had played there only once this season before drawing an emergency start Thursday as a replacement for Morrison.
“Over there (in Arizona),” Trumbo said, “they wanted me to focus on right field. They had a few other guys they could mix in over there. I’ll have to get a little more re-acclimated.”
Trumbo said it came back quickly.
“No problem,” he said. “I played over there for eight or nine years.”
Iwakuma progressing
Right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma reported no day-after problems following a bullpen workout Thursday that marked his first time on a mound since his April 20 start against Houston.
Iwakuma suffered a strained back muscle in his day-after throwing session following that start. Specifically, he has a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle.
Plans call for Iwakuma to throw another bullpen session prior to Sunday’s series finale against Tampa Bay.
He will then remain in Seattle to continue his recovery when the club departs on an eight-game trip.
Iwakuma is tentatively scheduled for a third bullpen workout next Wednesday before, barring setbacks, pitching a simulated game. McClendon said that simulated game could take place in Tacoma or at Safeco Field.
Club officials will then determined whether Iwakuma requires a second simulated game before departing on a minor-league rehab assignment. He is expected to make at least two rehab starts before rejoining the rotation.