Closer Brandon League leaves with one out left after getting hit by batted ball below right calf

WASHINGTON — The Mariners will find out Wednesday if Brandon League is available to close after having to leave Tuesday's game with a contusion below his right calf in the ninth inning.

With two outs, League was hit by a line drive up the middle off the bat of Mike Morse. He scrambled off the mound to field the ball, but threw too late to first.

"I wanted to get that last out," he said of the play. "The ballgame's on the line."

League then threw a couple of practice throws but couldn't continue. David Pauley took over and gave up a run-scoring single to Danny Espinosa and then Wilson Ramos' three-run homer that gave Washington the stunning 6-5 victory.

"I had a hard time pushing off," League said. "I couldn't push off at all. I felt like I was falling toward home plate. The wise decision was not to risk anything else."

League said his limp "is pretty noticeable. We're going to go day by day with it, see how it feels tomorrow. They say it's probably going to be a lot worse tomorrow than it is now, but I'm going to try to throw and see how it is."

If League can't close for a few days, manager Eric Wedge has a few options. One is Chris Ray, who served as a closer in Baltimore and has 51 career saves. Jamey Wright and Pauley are other potential candidates.

Ackley makes play

in field as well

It got lost in the misery of a brutal defeat, but until the Mariners' ninth-inning blowup, Dustin Ackley's superb play in the sixth was going to one of the major talking points.

With Doug Fister faltering, Ackley ranged to his left to spear a smash by Ryan Zimmerman, then fed Brendan Ryan to start an inning-ending double play. The Nationals already had a run in with runners on the corners at the time, so if that ball gets through, Fister would have been in a major jam.

"It was a great double play," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "Dustin has really done a good job. He's moving around well out there, going to his left and his right very well. He's made some real good plays for us right away."

Griffin earns award

Mariners trainer Rick Griffin missed a rare game in his 29-year career in Seattle. Griffin was in New Orleans to accept the Most Distinguished Trainer award from the PBATS (Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society) at the yearly symposium of the National Athletic Trainers Association. Their only higher honor is induction into the Hall of Fame — and you can't achieve that unless you've won the Most Distinguished Trainer award.

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

For the record: W-L 37-36; W PCT .507; Streak: L1 Home: 21-18 Road: 16-18 vs. AL West: 9-9 vs. L.A.: 3-2 vs. Oakland: 4-3 vs. Texas: 2-4 vs. AL East: 11-8 v. AL Cent: 12-17 vs. NL: 5-2 vs. LHP: 8-12 vs. RHP: 29-24 Day: 9-12 Night: 28-24 One-run: 14-11 Extra inngs.: 3-3