M's Trade Young Pozo For Veteran Jeff Manto

The Mariners, seeking experience and infield depth, brought in veteran infielder Jeff Manto from Boston yesterday in exchange for infielder prospect Arquimedez Pozo of Class AAA Tacoma.

Manager Lou Piniella said of the 31-year-old Manto, "He has the experience with a bit of power." And of Pozo, "He's a good young prospect but we felt we needed an experienced player down the stretch."

The Mariners have been searching for an everyday third baseman since Russ Davis broke his fibula June 7.

Manto, who played for Cleveland (1990-91), Philadelphia (1993) and Baltimore (1995), has a .233 career batting average with 23 home runs and 69 RBI in 184 games. He started the year in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants but was released after 10 games. He then signed with the Red Sox but played in just 10 games because of a strained right knee.

Martinez on disabled list

Designated hitter/third baseman Edgar Martinez, whose sore ribs didn't respond well yesterday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game. It is retroactive to July 21, the day after his collision with catcher John Marzano.

"I have no other choice but (to) look at the positive side of it," said Martinez, who has a chance to rest for a couple weeks. "I don't feel good about it, but I'll just have to work hard and be ready when I come off."

Andy Sheets was called up from Class AAA Tacoma.

Notes

-- Joey Cora's pinch-hit double in the ninth extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12.

-- It looked like the head-shaved U.S. Olympic Swim team last night at the Kingdome, all 3,321 members.

That's how many volunteered to have their locks shorn for the third annual Buhner Buzz Night. Jay Buhner even took over and shaved several heads, including his year-old son, Gunnar.

"It keeps getting bigger and bigger every year," Buhner said. There were 717 buzzers last year.

-- The crowd of 22,378 pushed the Mariners' attendance to 1,644,712, in 50 dates. That's 1,605 more than all of last season through 73 dates. It is already the fourth highest season attendance in club history, with an average of 32,894.

-- Commemorative stadium license plates, proceeds from which will support the new Mariners ballpark scheduled to open in 1999, will go on sale publicly today.

Home attendance

Last night: 22,378 Home season total: 1,644,712 Avg. for 50 games: 32,894

Mariner farm teams Class AAA: Edmonton 4, Tacoma (10-23) 3 Class AA: Greenville 7, Port City 2, 1st game

Greenville 5, Port City (13-18) 2, 2nd game Class A: Modesto 13, Lancaster 10 (15-17) Class A: Cedar Rapids 6, Wisconsin 4 (12-19) Class A: Everett (19-16) 7, Bellingham 1 Rookie: Peoria M's (16-8) not scheduled