M's Notes | With torn calf, Washburn done

ARLINGTON, Texas — Mariners pitcher Jarrod Washburn is done for the season after an examination of his injured right calf Wednesday revealed a thumb-sized hole in the muscle.

Washburn suffered a fairly serious strain, or tearing, of the muscle Tuesday night when he stepped in a small hole on the mound after delivering a pitch. Seattle head trainer Rick Griffin said the degree of the strain is "between one-and-a-half and two" on a scale of three and that Washburn needs from four to six weeks to fully recover.

"He's not going to be able to pitch again this season," Griffin said, meaning Washburn's inaugural campaign with Seattle ends with a record of 8-14 and a 4.67 earned-run average.

The Mariners are expected to name Class AA call-up Ryan Feierabend as Washburn's replacement this Sunday in Chicago. Feierabend has tossed six scoreless innings in two relief outings.

Washburn was limping noticeably in the clubhouse Wednesday and his lower leg was wrapped in a bandage. He said he would like to pitch in the season's final 10 days, but knows team management would never risk it.

"Most of my season didn't go the way I wanted it to," said Washburn, who was victimized early by a lack of run support and later faltered in a winless final month. "So, let's forget about it and go to next year. That's what I've got to do."

Washburn was signed to a four-year, $37.5 million contract last winter. He and Felix Hernandez seem to be the only sure bets to be in the team's rotation next season.

The rural life

Washburn lives in a pretty remote part of Wisconsin, a two-hour drive from any medical facility. That's why the Mariners' training staff plans to meet with Washburn's wife, Kerrie, next week in Seattle to go over the pitcher's daily offseason rehabilitation schedule.

Something else that will keep Washburn busy this winter is his fledgling business of raising deer for breeding purposes. Washburn owns 58 deer, which he raises in pens on his ample property.

Within the past year, he also invested $50,000 on a 50 percent share of a buck, nicknamed Tonto, whose value he now pegs in the $150,000 range. Tonto weighed in at 177-3/8 pounds a year ago, but has since grown larger and will be weighed again next week.

Semen from top bucks can be worth thousands of dollars depending on the animal's quality.

Washburn knew next to nothing about the industry, or how lucrative it can be, until a friend introduced him to it. "I started reading up on it," he said. "Obviously, now, I know a lot more than I did."

Ichiro is still the star

Autograph sessions aren't what they used to be for Mariners manager Mike Hargrove, who was heading toward the dugout during batting practice Wednesday when a young fan called out from the stands.

"Mr. Hargrove! Mr. Hargrove!" the boy said, thrusting out a ball and pen.

"Yes?" Hargrove replied with a smile.

"Could you get Ichiro to sign this?"

Hargrove politely declined.

Note

• C Kenji Johjima drove in a run in the first inning Wednesday, giving him 71 RBI this season. That moved Johjima into a tie for second place, with Bengie Molina, on the American League's all-time list for RBI by a rookie catcher. The top spot is held by Matt Nokes of the Detroit Tigers, who had 87 in 1987.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com

How the runs scored

Mariners first: Ichiro doubled to center. Beltre flied out to right fielder N.Cruz, Ichiro to third. Johjima hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder N.Cruz, Ichiro scored. Ibanez lined out to first baseman Teixeira. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. M's 1, Rangers 0.

Mariners third: Beltre fouled out to first baseman Teixeira. Johjima infield single to third. Ibanez struck out. Sexson doubled to left, Johjima to third. Broussard safe on Kinsler's error, Johjima scored, Sexson scored. Betancourt flied out to right fielder N.Cruz. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. M's 3, Rangers 0.

Mariners fifth: Ibanez homered to center on a 0-1 count. Sexson grounded out, third baseman DeRosa to first baseman Teixeira. Broussard popped out to shortstop M.Young. Betancourt doubled to center. Lopez safe on Kinsler's error, Betancourt scored. Bloomquist grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop M.Young to second baseman Kinsler, Lopez out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. M's 5, Rangers 0.

Rangers fifth: Kinsler struck out. Laird was hit by a pitch. N.Cruz homered to left on a full count, Laird scored. Matthews Jr. flied out to center fielder Ichiro. M.Young struck out. 2 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. M's 5, Rangers 2.

Mariners seventh: Ibanez grounded out, second baseman Kinsler to first baseman Teixeira. Sexson flied out to right fielder N.Cruz. Broussard walked. Betancourt infield single to third, Broussard to second. Lopez singled to center, Broussard scored, Betancourt to third. Betancourt was out advancing, center fielder Matthews Jr. to catcher Laird, Betancourt out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. M's 6, Rangers 2.

Rangers ninth: Lee doubled to left. Sherrill pitching. Blalock singled to left, Lee scored. Putz pitching. DeRosa struck out. Kinsler singled to right, Blalock to second. Laird struck out. N.Cruz struck out. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. M's 6, Rangers 3.

Mariners statistics

For the record

W/L streak: W-2

At home: 41-34

On road: 32-45

vs. AL West: 16-35

vs. Angels: 9-10

vs. Oakland: 1-15

vs. Texas: 6-10

vs. AL East: 25-19

vs. AL Cen.: 18-21

vs. NL: 14-4

vs. LHP: 19-23

vs. RHP: 54-56

Day: 21-25

Night: 52-54

1-run: 18-22

Extra innings: 7-7

The week ahead

Th

@ White Sox

5:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jake Woods (5-3)

vs.

RH Javier Vazquez

(11-9)

F

@ White Sox

5:35 p.m., Ch. 11

RH Gil Meche (11-8)

vs.

RH Jose Contreras

(13-8)

Sa

@ White Sox

10:25 a.m., Ch. 13

RH Felix

Hernandez (11-14)

vs.

LH Mark Buehrle

(12-13)

Su

@ White Sox

11:05 a.m., FSN

LH Ryan Feierabend (0-0)

vs.

RH Freddy Garcia

(15-9)

M

Oakland

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Cha Seung Baek (4-1)

vs.

RH Esteban Loaiza (11-8)

T

Oakland

7:05 p.m., FSN

LH Jake Woods (5-3)

vs.

RH Rich Harden (3-0)

W

Oakland

7:05 p.m., FSN

RH Gil Meche (11-8)

vs.

LH Barry Zito (16-9)