Mariners fall out of first after Pineiro loses fifth straight start

The fact that the Mariners have used the same five starting pitchers for the entire season is not the problem. No one in the rotation is even in the league's top 10 among innings pitched. No one has pitched on three days' rest. They have all gotten their rest. Their arms aren't sore. Yet their velocity is about the only thing that's been consistent.

"You're grasping at straws to find a legitimate answer," pitching coach Bryan Price said of the incoherent pitching gyrations of his starting staff. Starter Joel Pineiro's effort last night against Tampa, by Price's account, was "a huge step," but he gave up seven hits and five runs in seven innings in an 8-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

The loss allowed Oakland (78-55) to take control of the AL West after the Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-2. The Athletics, who have won five in a row, lead the division by one game. It's the first time since April 14 that the Mariners (77-56) have not held at least a share of the lead. The Mariners are tied with the Boston Red Sox for the wild card.

For history buffs, the pattern is repeating. A year ago, the Mariners led from April 9 until Aug. 23.

The starting five — Pineiro, Jamie Moyer, Freddy Garcia, Gil Meche and Ryan Franklin — have all had their high times this season. Just not lately. Over the past 17 games, a Mariners starter has pitched more than six innings just three times.

"We're dealing with five individuals who have all had periods of greatness during the season who are now having a hard time sequencing good outings," Price said. "Health is not a concern. Over-pitching is not a concern.

"As a group, collectively, I think we've been grinding too much. This isn't a time to physically grind. It's a time to feel mentally prepared while you are on the mound."

Pineiro's effort in August symbolized the staff's contrasting efforts. He finished 0-5 with an 8.31 earned-run average. He had been 5-0 with a 1.44 ERA in July.

Garcia was 5-0 with a 2.05 ERA in June then 0-4 with a 9.45 ERA in July. Gil Meche began the season 10-3 then went 1-4 with a 5.50 ERA in July.

"I don't think these guys are trying to avoid the bat," Price said. "What I'm seeing is that maybe they're trying to do more than they need to do. They're feeling like they have to throw their best fastball or their best slider. But I don't think that was the case with Joel tonight."

Early on, Pineiro was out-pitched by 20-year-old Chad Gaudin, the youngest pitcher in the major leagues. He allowed just one hit in the first four innings and was helped by an early lead.

After Travis Lee's two-run homer in the second, Aubrey Huff blooped an RBI single in the third for the three-run lead. Second baseman Bret Boone halted the third-inning rally with as good a defensive play as any this season. With two outs and a runner on first, Rocco Baldelli hit a grounder up the middle, to Boone's right. He dived for the ball to stop it then blindly flipped it back to Rey Sanchez at second.

Back-to-back home runs by Julio Lugo and Huff in the fifth inning gave the Rays a 5-0 lead, but the Mariners finally responded in the bottom of the fifth.

Gaudin walked leadoff hitter Randy Winn on four pitches and followed that with another walk to Sanchez. Then Ben Davis hit a low line drive to center field that skipped off Baldelli's glove and hit him on the forehead above the bill of his cap. He said his contact got fuzzy as he ran to the ball.

The Mariners capitalized on the unexpected rally. Carlos Guillen worked a bases-loaded walk for a 5-1 score. Boone followed with a two-run single to left, Gaudin's final pitch.

The Mariners had one more chance to come back in the eighth after Ben Davis drove a RBI double down the right-field line. That put runners on second and third with one out, but Ichiro popped up to third, and Guillen bounced out to short. Ichiro was 0 for 5 and left six runners in scoring position.

"I don't feel good about it," said Ichiro, who is hitting .143 (6 of 42) in his last 10 games. "If I say I feel good about it, I'm stupid."