Minor league talent lets pitchers' duel fall apart

KIRBY ARNOLD, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Saturday, March 23, 2002

PEORIA, Ariz. -- A game that started crisply with Seattle's Ryan Franklin and Arizona's Randy Johnson locked in a swift pitcher's duel fell apart in the late innings when minor league pitchers couldn't seem to get anyone out.

When it finally ended, the Diamondbacks beat the Mariners 10-3 Friday and M's hitting coach Gerald Perry wasn't around for the finish.

Plate umpire Rick Reed ejected Perry in the top of the ninth inning for what Perry said was a harmless comment.

"I just said, 'Let's go, we'll be out here all day,' " Perry said.

Reed ripped off his mask and yelled angrily into the Mariners dugout as he kicked out Perry.

"He copped an attitude," Perry said. "He also had one with us in the playoffs last year. That was the only thing I said and he got ticked off. If we have to conduct ourselves in a certain way, it should be the same for these guys."

- LOU EXPECTED BACK: Manager Lou Piniella, who left the team Monday to stay with his sick father in Florida, was scheduled to return to Arizona on Friday night and be with the team today.

- PROFESSOR PRICE: Enmanuel Ulloa struggled so badly in the ninth inning Friday that Bryan Price made one trip to settle down the 24-year-old minor league pitcher, then a second to pull him from the game.

Ulloa allowed five runs on four hits and two walks and couldn't get the final out in the top of the ninth.

It certainly wasn't a miserable moment for Price, who was back in his element as a pitching coach and using a little psychology on his student.

"That's the fun part, believe it or not," said Price, who spent 10 years coaching in the Mariners' minor league system before becoming their pitching coach in 2000.

"It's different from the work you do with guys at the major league level. He's out there trying to impress, pitching with a big-league team behind him and trying not to screw up.

"I love it. I know how excited the guys get to have this opportunity. It's an experience that maybe helps make him a better pitcher in San Antonio this year."

- THE GREATEST: Conversations ceased, interviews stopped and groups of players parted as a legend walked into the Mariners' clubhouse early Friday afternoon.

Muhammad Ali passed through the Seattle complex on his way to the game between the Mariners and Diamondbacks.

"Wasn't that amazing?" Mark McLemore said, giddy that Ali gave his autograph to his kids.

Ichiro Suzuki was surrounded by reporters, but clearly became distracted when Ali walked through. The interview didn't last much longer.

Outfielder Charles Gipson wasn't in the clubhouse when Ali came in, but someone told him it felt like they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Gipson had a comparison.

"Ali or Randy Johnson pitching," said Gipson, who went 0-for-2 against Johnson in the game.

- RECORD CROWD: The Mariners and Diamondbacks, two of the top spring training draws in the majors, packed Peoria Stadium with a record crowd of 13,048 on Friday.

It topped the previous record of 12,758 set March 15 when the San Francisco Giants played at Peoria.

The Mariners are averaging 9,280 for 12 home dates, third in the majors behind the New York Yankees (10,118) and Giants (9,547). The M's play three more home games in Peoria before they break camp.

- TODAY IN CAMP: Mariners vs. Brewers at Maryvale, 12:05 p.m. (Pacific time).

Right-hander Paul Abbott is scheduled to pitch six innings for the Mariners, with right-hander Jeff Nelson and left-hander Arthur Rhodes slated for an inning apiece.

Right-hander Ben Sheets will start for Milwaukee.

With the designated hitter not being used in the game, DH Edgar Martinez will get his at-bats in minor league games.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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