A GRIP ON SPORTS • Disaster averted. For now. Read on.

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• The Mariners entered the ninth inning yesterday afternoon leading 7-4. Edwin Diaz was on the mound. Three quick outs and the cross-country flight to Tampa could be made with a lighter load.

But the three outs came any way but quick.

Diaz had one of those games. You know the ones we are talking about. The ones in which, afterward, Scott Servais talks about the closer’s mechanics and Diaz admits he couldn’t get his problem fixed in-game.

This time it was all about his front side flying open early and the ball sailing. How bad was it? Three-consecutive-walks bad. An almost-game-sinking-line-drive bad. A hit-batter bad. And another-call-to-the-bullpen-to-end it bad.

Marc Rzepczynski came in and struck out Chris Davis to preserve the M’s 7-6 win – they are back to .500 at 61-61 – but the much-needed momentum before their 12-game road trip went poof along with Diaz’s command.

Between now and Sept. 1, the Mariners play Tampa Bay, Atlanta, the Yankees and the Orioles. All except for the Braves are in the American League wild-card hunt.

And all 12 games are on the road. It’s a stretch that could easily determine the M’s postseason fate.

Will they do something semi-miraculous, win nine or 10 games and come home well above .500 and atop the wild-card standings? Or will they collapse due to their lack of starting pitching and, now, unsure bullpen, lose all but a couple of the contests and return to Seattle in September playing out the string?

Probably neither.

If this team has taught us anything through the first 122 games, it’s that they are remarkably resilient – and mediocre. My guess for the trip: 6-6, with a losing streak and a winning streak mixed in.

Why would we expect anything else?

• You know what would be fun? Following the Mariners on this road trip.

Yes, it would take winning the lottery to pay for it, but think about it. Fly to Tampa today. Three games in the dome – it’s not a bad place to watch a game considering no one goes and you can sit close – and two days on the beach.

Sunday night you drive to Atlanta. It’s not that far. The Braves have a new stadium and plenty of empty seats. Plus Atlanta is pretty cool – figuratively, this time of year not literally – city.

After Wednesday’s game, you can hop on a plane, or better yet a train, and head up to New York City. The weekend series against the Yankees includes two day games, so the New York nightlife – eating in NYC is the best – beckons seductively.

On the next Monday morning, it’s easy to catch another train and ride down to Baltimore for the three games vs. the Orioles.

Kim and I once watched the M’s play at Camden Yards. We stayed at a hotel a mile or so from the ballpark and left for the game in the early afternoon, hoofing it to the park.

Our goal: To stop at every pub on the way and have one adult beverage in each. We did it. Met a lot of people. It was fun. At least what I remember.

Actually, it wasn’t too bad. We were sober enough to take our picture in front of the warehouse underneath the Ken Griffey Jr. marker, where he hit it during the 1993 home run derby. And the M’s won, so there’s that.

Anyhow, if I had unlimited funds and could have thought to plan ahead, I would be off to Florida today.

Actually, if I had unlimited funds, I wouldn’t have had to plan.

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WSU: Get on Mike Leach’s wrong side during practice and you might have to take a roll in zhe hay. Well, grass actually. (Sorry, but my mind immediately went to Teri Garr in Young Frankenstein and the hay wagon scene. Solid gold.) Theo Lawson, who is probably too young and impressionable to have seen Young Frankenstein, has a story on Leach’s punishment method. … USA Today has a story on Leach today. … The Manning Award watch list was released yesterday and Luke Falk was on it. So was UW’s Jake Browning and Idaho’s Matt Linehan. … Cody O’Connell made another All-America team. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the loss of John Ross to the NFL doesn’t mean Washington won’t have speed on the outside. … The Huskies, with a lot of players back, should be ranked high to start the season. … Oregon State worked on its red zone play yesterday. The games begin soon. … Can Oregon’s defense and special teams improve this season? … California will try to turn its fortunes around under Justin Wilcox. … There is no reason to forget this receiver at Colorado. … Utah is still looking for the right guy to lead the rushing attack. … A former walk-on may be key for UCLA and its passing game. … For USC’s passing game to shine, the Trojans have to replace Adoree’ Jackson. … There is plenty of pressure on Arizona State coach Todd Graham, pressure put on from those above. … Arizona wants to be better at recruiting Polynesian players.

EWU: Starting tackle Nick Ellison has left the football program for personal reasons. Jim Allen has the story. … Around the Big Sky, North Dakota will have one less running back available this season. … Montana’s quarterback has had his share of adversity. … Montana State hopes a new running back will be able to help.

Preps: Greg Lee announced on Twitter last night he will be taking a buyout and leaving The Spokesman-Review. Welcome to our side of the mirror, Greg. But before you go, could you tell us what’s going to happen in GSL football this season? … Steve Christilaw has a piece on Central Valley’s new volleyball coach. … The state legislature is considering getting involved in the running of high school sports. That wouldn’t be good.

Indians: The homestand didn’t begin the way Spokane wanted it, with North rival Vancouver picking up a 6-2 win. Whitney Ogden has the game story. … Elsewhere in the Northwest League, Everett got back over .500 in the second half with a 4-1 home win over Tri-City. … Eugene handled Hillsboro, 3-2.

Mariners: Unless the M’s starting pitchers can go at least five innings consistently, the bullpen may have trouble holding up on the upcoming road trip. … But hey, they won 7-6 yesterday against the Orioles, who didn’t play Adam Jones yesterday. … Kyle Seager is still dealing with a stomach ailment and Christian Bergman cleared waivers.

Seahawks: The Hawks’ signing of defensive back Tramaine Brock isn’t sitting too well with the Times’ Larry Stone. … Frank Clark has been on the same path with the Hawks and it’s a bumpy one. … Training camp is officially over. Whatever that means. … Michael Bennett’s anthem protest doesn’t bother one group of soldiers.

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• We mentioned Greg’s announcement in the Prep section above. Over the next few days a few veteran Spokesman reporters and editors will be also be announcing their departure (columnist Doug Clark did it in the paper today). Yes, it will be a loss in institutional memory and veteran leadership. But it’s also not as bad as it seems – especially for them. Unless one of them wants this gig. Then there will be heck to pay. I fight dirty. Until later …