M's Sweep BoSox, Gain Momentum

The Mariners looked to be on the skids when they lost six games in succession earlier this month. But Seattle has bounced back from that to win seven of the last eight, including five consecutively.

That run is making the Mariners something of a player in the American League West, with the Angels, for the first time all year, hitting the skids a bit.

Things are looking up for the Mariners, too, because right-hander Mark Lowe, who was dynamite for the club last season, is going out on an injury-rehabilitation assignment in the next week, and he should be back soon.

As it is, the Mariners are starting to win the close games. They had two one-run wins over the Red Sox, and three of their last four wins have come by one run, thanks mostly to a strong bullpen.

MARINERS 2, RED SOX 1 (11 innings): The Mariners completed a three-game sweep of Boston on Wednesday thanks to a game-winning double in the bottom of the 11th by second baseman Jose Lopez.

Left-hander Ryan Feierabend was long gone by the time the game was concluded, but the rookie came back from the worst start of his big league career (nine runs in 2 2/3 innings against Cincinnati) to throw five scoreless innings against Boston.

NOTES, QUOTES

--LHP Mark Lowe threw one inning of a simulated game Wednesday morning after a 30-pitch bullpen session and reported feeling no pain. Lowe has had two elbow surgeries since the last time he pitched in a game. He'll throw a simulated game Saturday, then go out on an injury-rehabilitation assignment.

--RHP Sean White got in a session of work in the bullpen, throwing 30 pitches Wednesday. It's the first time the rookie has been on the mound since going on the disabled list June 2 with right biceps tendinitis.

--LHP George Sherrill had just one mission against the Red Sox this week, to get out DH David Ortiz. Sherrill faced Ortiz twice with men in scoring position and got him both times. Ortiz has one hit in seven career at-bats against Sherrill.

--2B Jose Lopez said he thought he'd hit a game-winning homer in the 11th inning Wednesday. The ball didn't carry as far as he'd thought, and it turned into a game-winning double. "It doesn't matter," Lopez said. "A double was good enough."

--C Jamie Burke, who doubled and scored the Mariners' first run Wednesday, has hit safely in 15 of the 19 games in which he's gotten an at-bat this season.