Mariner Log

NOTES

AFTER SHAKY START, BULLPEN DOES JOB

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Mariners' 2-7 road trip did have one redeeming feature: The Seattle bullpen is looking steadier despite blowing a ninth-inning lead last Saturday in Kansas City.

Last night, Jeff Nelson and Russ Swan shut down Texas rallies, in the seventh and eighth innings. Rich DeLucia, whom Manager Bill PLummer envisions in long relief once the starting rotation gets settled, had seven strong outs, five of them strikeouts.

"That was not the new DeLucia," said the pitcher who carried a 11.37 earned-run average in six games before going to Class AAA Calgary a month ago. "That was the old one, the way he should have been."

Instead of trying to pick spots, DeLucia went after hitters. "Before, I was falling behind, then not making pitches when I had to," he said. "That is a fatal combination."

-- Harold Reynolds' single in the sixth was the 999th hit of his career. When he gets his next hit, he will become the second Mariner to have 1,000-plus hits. Alvin Davis, now with the California Angels, had 1,163.

-- Catcher Dave Valle is the Mariners' nominee for the 1992 Roberto Clemente Award, which annually honors a player for his sportsmanship, community involvement and contribution to his team and baseball.

Last season's winner was Harold Reynolds, the 21st major-league player so honored. The winner from among the 26 nominees will be announced July 13, prior to the All-Star Game.

-- The Mariners have reached contract agreements with 18 of 50 players drafted last week, said Roger Jongewaard, Mariners vice president of scouting and player development.

Five of the 18 are among the Mariners' 10 top picks, including third-round choice Chris Widger, a catcher from George Mason University.

Twelve of the 18 are pitchers. The signees:

Round 3 - Chris Widger, catcher, 21, George Mason University. Round 5 - John VanHof, LHP, 18, Anderson HS, Mich. Round 6 - Tim Davis, LHP, 21, Florida State. Round 9 - Ivan Montane, RHP, 19, Miami Dade CC. Round 10 - Joe Pomierski, 3B, 18, Biloxi HS, Miss. Round 13 - Oscar Rivera, RHP, 20, San Jose City College. Round 14 - Brian Wallace, INF, 20, Delaware University. Round 16 - Brett Hinchcliffe, RHP, 17, Gallagher HS, Mich. Round 18 - Jackie Nickell, RHP, 22, USC. Round 24 - James Clifford, 1B, 22, Washington. Round 20 - Robert Worley, RHP, 21, Ohio State. Round 28 - Marcus Sturdivant, OF, 18, West Stanley HS, Ga. Round 29 - Stacy Davis, OF, 18, S.W. Dekaub HS, Ga. Round 31 - Richard Graham, RHP, 22, Massachusetts-Amherst. Round 35 - William Cody, RHP, 21, UC-Riverside. Round 38 -Jamon Deal, RHP, 22, UNC-Asheville. Round 39 - Jerry Aschoff, LHP, 22, Pepperdine. Round 49 - Kevin Stock, LHP, 22, Virginia.

-- Jay Buhner's homer was Seattle's first in five games. . . . The Mariners are 9-22 on the road. NEXT UP: MILWAUKEE

-- SERIES - Milwaukee at Seattle, three games. -- PITCHING MATCHUPS - Tonight, Erik Hanson (2-9, 4.86) vs. Jaime Navarro (6-4, 3.81); tomorrow, Randy Kramer (0-0, 1.50) vs. Bill Wegman (6-5, 2.73); Sunday afternoon, Dave Fleming (9-1, 2.88) vs. Rick Bones (2-2, 3.94).

-- WHO'S HOT - 1B Paul Molitor has hit .348 (16-46) in 13 games; LF Darryl Hamilton has hit .333 (16-48) with 9 RBI in 13 games; IF Scott Fletcher has hit .353 (18-51) with 11 runs and 9 RBI in 15 games.

-- WHO'S NOT - 2B Jim Gantner has hit .160 (4-25) in eight games; C B.J. Surhoff is hitless in 12 at-bats; 1B Franklin Stubbs is 3-for-17 in his past six games; SS Pat Listach is at .148 (4-27) in seven games.

-- NOTES - Milwaukee has won nine of 13 games; leads the majors with 83 stolen bases, succeeding on 21 of their past 26 attempts.

FARM REPORT

-- Vancouver 11, Calgary (26-30) 8 - The Canadians scored three unearned runs against Kerry Woodson in the sixth inning en route to the Pacific Coast League victory. The uprising against Woodson, making his Class AAA debut, featured three hits and two errors. Mike Blowers hit a home run for Calgary in the seventh.

-- Jacksonville (31-30) 4, Orlando 0

-- San Bernardino (25-38) 7, Reno 6

-- Prince William 4-0, Peninsula (31-30) 0-4