Chone Figgins says he feels out of rhythm on offense and defense

WASHINGTON — The struggles of Chone Figgins continue to be a major concern for the Mariners.

Back in the lineup after sitting out on Tuesday, Figgins went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in Wednesday's 2-1 Seattle loss to drop his average to .190. He looked at three straight pitches from closer Drew Storen for a game-ending strikeout.

Figgins also struggled in the field, committing his ninth error in the first inning to lead to one of two unearned runs by Washington.

"We're trying to give him opportunities to get himself going, but it's a fine line, and we're sure as hell walking it," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "I'd like to see him more aggressive. You're not going to passively get out of a slump. You've got to fight your way through it and be more aggressive.

"But I know that's easier said than done, too. He's in a funk right now. When you're in a funk, they are human beings, so I'm sure there are confidence issues that go along with that. He's a good kid trying to get it done; he's just having trouble moving in that direction."

Figgins said, "I've always been a guy who sees pitches. I have to just keep doing what I do and battle through it."

Figgins added that both offensively and defensively, he feels out of rhythm.

"I'm a rhythm-type player. It's tough, but you have to keep battling through it."

Figgins said he has no choice but to persevere through the roughest stretch of his career.

"Nothing's changed, like my work ethic and all that stuff doesn't change," he said. "I have to just keep battling through it. There's a lot more greater things to come than worse."

Notes

• Wedge elected not to pinch-hit Adam Kennedy for Figgins with two outs in the ninth, indicating he was saving Kennedy to hit for the pitcher. If Figgins had reached base, then Dustin Ackley and Kennedy would have followed.

"In that last inning, we're thinking about winning the ballgame," Wedge said. "That's why we're hoping one guy can get on. If the first two get on, we can bunt Figgins. If one guy gets on, we've got Ackley and Kennedy coming. We weren't looking for the tie there, we were looking to try to win the ballgame. It didn't work out, because all three of them got out, but you've got to go one way or the other there."

• Brandon League, who had to leave Tuesday's game after getting hit below his right calf, felt much better on Wednesday and was available to close if the Mariners had taken a lead.

"He's feeling better than we thought he was going to feel," Wedge said. "He was scuffling last night, man."

• Ackley was out of the starting lineup for the first time. He sat against Nationals left-handed starter John Lannan.

For the record: W-L 37-37; W PCT .500 Streak: L2 Home: 21-18 Road: 16-19 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: 5-3 vs. LHP: 8-13 vs. RHP: 29-24 Day: 9-12 Night: 28-25 One-run: 14-12 Extra inngs.: 3-3