Jose

Lopez

If this diagnosis stands up after MRI results are reviewed, Lopez will avoid surgery, but will need a month or so to rehab the injury. Lopez was having a fine season at Class AAA Tacoma, batting .280 with 11 homers and 28 RBI. He is considered Seattle’s shortstop of the future.

Lopez, who is considered Seattle’s shortstop of the future, will undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the damage to his knee. Let’s hope he has not torn a ligament.

Lopez is hitting .285-11-31 with 32 runs scored and four stolen bases in 242 at-bats for Triple-A Tacoma. He’ll be well worth owning in AL-only leagues after he’s called up.

Lopez is batting .331/.370/.563 in 130 AB for Tacoma. He’ll be one of the Mariners’ September callups, although it’s uncertain how much playing time he’ll get. He should still be in the club’s plans for 2006.

Manager Mike Hargrove said the injury doesn’t appear to be serious. “It got jammed three days ago and he tried to play through it,” Hargrove said. Willie Bloomquist started in his place.

Carmona intentionally walked Ichiro Suzuki to load the bases with two outs, thus giving Lopez the chance to deliver the go-ahead single. A hit batter and a Raul Ibanez two-run single later in the inning gave the Mariners a 7-3 cushion, a score they would later win by.

The Mariners got all of their runs in the final four innings. Richie Sexson and Kenji Johjima homered twice and Yuniesky Betancourt delivered two doubles. Lopez also had three hits on Sunday, so his slump is over. He had been 1-for-22 in six games, and he actually went the entire month of July without an extra-base hit.

The Mariners had indicated that he’d play. Instead, Willie Bloomquist started at second base and had a single in four at-bats.

Lopez was hurt sliding headfirst into first base on Saturday. Willie Bloomquist went 1-for-4 as the Mariners’ second baseman today.

It was Lopez’s third game as the Mariners’ new No. 3 hitter. His .315 OBP still makes him look like more of a No. 5 or No. 6 hitter, but the Mariners just don’t have any better options.