Since the All-Star break, the Seattle Mariners are 4-9, an umimpressive record against contending teams – Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston.

It doesn’t get any easier. Tonight, they face Mark Buehrle and the White Sox, get Freddy Garcia tomorrow and then open a three-game series in Minnesota.

With Jose Lopez sidelined with a knot in his hamstring, Russell Branyan will bat cleanup tonight, and in seven career at-bats against Buehrle, he owns a home run and a pair of RBI.  Better yet for Seattle, Franklin Gutierrez is back from a one-day absence – and he’s hit two home runs and …

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Jose Lopez had been the cleanup hitter each of the last 23 Seattle Mariners games, but he’s day-to-day with a knot in his left hamstring – so the Mariners are scramling up another lineup.

Last night, it was Franklin Gutierrez missing, and while he’s back, Lopez is not. So Russell Branyan will bat fourth, Josh-not-Jack Wilson will play third and Jack-not-Josh Wilson will play shortstop. With two hits last night, Josh Bard is back behind the plate.

Here’s the lineup vs. lefty Mark Buehrle:

• Ichiro Suzuki, RF
• Chone Figgins, 2B
• Franklin Gutierrez, CF
• Russell Branyan, DH
• Justin Smoak, 1B

…

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When Ryan Rowland-Smith got back to his hotel room last night after being hammered for a club-record-tying 11 runs, he was afraid he couldn’t speak – so he texted some friends and family members.

“I knew my voice would break,” he said today.

Eventually, he risked actual phone calls. Who did he call?

“The whole phone book,” he said. “I talked to my mum in Australia, and a lot of people called or texted. My mum’s approach was telling me than when I write my autobiography – when I’m 35 and well into my career – this will make an …

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Ryan Rowland-Smith was placed on the 15-day disabled list today – less than 24 hours after allowing 11 runs in five innings – and his roster spot taken by left-hander Luke French, called up from Tacoma.

The 24-year-old French has had a marvelous season in the Pacific Coast League, going 11-3 wih a 2.94 earned run average. One year after being acquired in the Jarrod Washburn trade with Detroit, this will be French’s third call to Seattle in 2010.

In four games – one start – French was 0-1 with a 6.39 ERA. …

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The Associated Press

CHICAGO — The Seattle Mariners have recalled left-hander Luke French from Triple-A Tacoma and sent struggling starter Ryan Rowland-Smith to the disabled list with a strained low back.

The Mariners announced the moves before Wednesday night’s game at the Chicago White Sox.

The 27-year-old Rowland-Smith fell to 1-10 with a 6.96 ERA after tying a team record by allowing all 11 runs in Tuesday’s 11-0 loss at Chicago. He has allowed 23 home runs in 22 games.

French will be in his third stint with the Mariners this season.

The 24-year-old has appeared in four games and …

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When the Seattle Mariners traded for first baseman-designated hitter Russell Branyan, it was to put a bat in their lineup that at least had the possibility of hitting a home run.

After eight games out with back spasms, Branyan is back and batting third in the lineup, a .260 hitter with 13 home runs and 34 RBI. As a threat, there’s no one in the Seattle batting order who’s comparable.

Justin Smoak (10 home runs) and Michael Saunders (8 HR) may develop into run producers, but the Mariners don’t have hitters another pitcher fears – let alone a flurry of …

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Big Russell Branyan and the potential of power he carries are back in the Seattle Mariners lineup after  missing seven full games and part of another.

So is Justin Smoak, who got a day off Modnay. There’s a change at shortstop, another at catcher and a third in center field tonight – and of course, Ryan Rowland-Smith will try to win his second game of the year.

Here’s the lineup vs. right-hander Gavin Floyd:

• Ichiro Suzuki, RF
• Chone Figgins, 2B
• Russell Branyan, DH
• Jose Lopez, 3B
• Justin Smoak, 1B
• Michael Saunders, CF
• Josh Wilson, SS
• Josh Bard, C
• Ryan

…

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Franklin Gutierrez was in the original Seattle Mariners lineup but not the second, which this time of  year can often mean a player has just been traded.

Not in the case of Mr. Gutierrez. He was called away for a ‘family situation,’ the team said, and will be expected back tomorrow. As for trade deadline concerns, one man whose name pops up is David Aardsma.

“I don’t worry about it because I can’t influence it, one way or the other,” Aardsma said. “If I’m still  here after the deadline, great. If I’m not, it’s not my doing.”

Does he find …

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