Mariners' Milton Bradley suspended for one game

Mariners outfielder Milton Bradley served a one-game suspension Tuesday for an incident at Boston's Fenway Park last Saturday. Bradley was also fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball.

Bradley originally planned to appeal his suspension, and was in the starting lineup posted by Mariners manager Eric Wedge. However, just before batting practice, Bradley decided to drop his appeal. Ryan Langerhans replaced him in left field.

"It was his call," Wedge said.

The Mariners called the commissioner's office and got it cleared for Bradley to serve the suspension Tuesday.

Bradley was ejected Saturday in the third inning while he was a base runner at second base. He was ejected by second-base umpire Gerry Davis after a close call at first base in which Miguel Olivo was called out.

An MLB source said Bradley was suspended because he made contact with Davis with the bill of his helmet during the ensuing argument.

"That's what it was — evidently he made contact, or they said he made contact," Wedge said.

Bradley declined to comment. Approached by reporters, Bradley said, "You guys get away from my locker, please."

Aardsma update

David Aardsma, who has made five rehab appearances with Tacoma, is experiencing forearm stiffness and will be shut down for a couple of days.

"We'll have him play catch in a couple of days, and if that's fine, we'll have him throw a bullpen (session) and get him back out," Wedge said.

Aardsma, who would have been the Mariners' closer, has been out all season after undergoing hip surgery on Jan. 3. Wedge did not seem overly concerned with the forearm issue.

"It happens," he said. "He's feeling good with regard to the hip. That's the most important thing. This is really nothing to be concerned about. I'm sure it didn't help it was 20 degrees (pitching in Reno and Salt Lake) and everything else that goes along with it. It was just some normal soreness so we're going to be careful with it."

Notes

• As for Franklin Gutierrez, he began his own rehab stint with Tacoma Monday night, playing designated hitter and getting a triple in four at-bats. Wedge said the original plan was for Gutierrez to play center field, but because it was a damp night in Tacoma, the Mariners decided it was prudent to keep him out of the outfield. The plan is for Gutierrez to alternate between center and DH this week.

"We'll re-evaluate this weekend, see where's he's at," Wedge said.

• Michael Pineda was named the American League Rookie of the Month after going 4-1 with a 2.01 earned-run average in five starts.

"It's pretty good. I'm excited because rookie of the month is ... oh wow," Pineda said.

Wedge said of Pineda's award, "That's a great accomplishment for a young man in his first month in the big leagues. That says a lot. He's been very consistent. He's handled everything well. I think now there's a lot of attention coming his way, and he's going to have to handle that, too.

"There will continue to be challenges in front of him he'll have to deal with and handle. But so far he's handled everything well."

Pineda starts Wednesday against the Rangers, the first time he will have faced a team a second time.

"That is another step," Wedge said. "That's real. As he gets deeper in the season, there will be more of a book on him. That's another step as teams prepare for him. That's one of the things you have to love about the big leagues. It's always a series of adjustments and it's never-ending."

For the record: W-L: 14-16; W PCT: .467; Streak: W1 Home: 6-8 Road: 8-8 vs. AL West: 5-6 vs. L.A.: 0-0 vs. Oakland: 4-3 vs. Texas: 1-3 vs. AL East: 4-2 vs. AL Cent: 5-8 vs. NL: 0-0 vs. LHP: 5-5 vs. RHP: 9-11 Day: 2-8 Night: 12-8 One-run: 6-4 Extra inngs.: 0-0 Home attendance Tuesday's crowd: 12,759 Season total: 261,863 Biggest crowd: 45,727 (April 8) Smallest crowd: 12,407 (April 13) Average (14 dates): 18,705 2010 average (14 dates): 25,187

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com