Mariners

Seattle took two of three from the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field to start the season. Its lone loss came when All-Star closer J.J. Putz, who converted his first 29 save opportunities last season, allowed a two-run, go-ahead home run to Josh Hamilton in the ninth inning Tuesday. The next day Putz was put on the disabled list with a rib injury. Tomorrow's starter, Batista, earned the save Wednesday. In the Texas series, Seattle starters -Bedard, Hernandez and Carlos Silva - allowed two earned runs in 19 innings.

Andre' Letren , who set an American Indoor Football Association single-game record with five interceptions and has professional playing experience in Canada and Italy, has been re-signed by the Mariners. Baseball: The Washington Nationals hired Bryan Minniti as assistant general manager and Jay Sartori as director of baseball operations, filling out GM Mike Rizzo 's front office. Minniti spent the past nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the last two as director of baseball operations.

It started out to be a beautiful afternoon at Oriole Park, but it turned ugly in a hurry. The game between the Orioles and Seattle Mariners turned into a brawl yesterday when tempers flared and a 60-man free-for-all erupted in the seventh inning.The fight lasted nearly 20 minutes. It began with a pile of bodies on the mound and spilled over into a series of smaller skirmishes around the infield. By the time the game resumed, seven players and Mariners manager Lou Piniella had been ejected by the umpiring crew, and Mariners pitcher Chris Bosio might have sustained a season-threatening injury.

Powered by a record-tying five interceptions by defensive back Armar Watson and five touchdown passes from quarterback E.J. Nemeth, the Mariners overpowered the New Jersey Revolution, 68-23, in their home season opener Sunday at 1st Mariner Arena. The Mariners, 2-0 and in sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference of the American Indoor Football Association, set a franchise record with 51 points in the first half on their way to a 51-10 lead at the break over the Revolution (0-1)

The Orioles have made a habit out of turning unheralded opposing starters into virtuosos this season. After one shaky inning, the Orioles did it again Wednesday night, this time to one of their minor league castoffs who couldn't crack the big league rotation last year. Seattle right-hander David Pauley, who spent all last season stuck at Triple-A Norfolk, was effective through six innings, and the Mariners' bullpen held on to beat the Orioles, 6-5, in the season finale between the teams with the worst records in the American League.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Lenny Moore will serve as honorary captain for the Mariners (15-0) when they play the Wyoming Cavalry (14-1) in AIFA Bowl IV at 4 p.m. Sunday at 1st Mariner Arena. Moore scored the first touchdown in the last football league championship game in Baltimore, the 1959 NFL title game won, 31-16, by the Colts over the New York Giants.

Baseball Former Orioles closer Ray is released by Mariners The Seattle Mariners released former Orioles closer Chris Ray . He had been on the disabled list since Aug. 1, retroactive to July 30, with a strained right shoulder latissimus dorsi. Ray went 3-2 with a 4.68 ERA in 29 relief appearances this season, his sixth in the majors. He was released to make room on the 40-man roster for pitcher Danny Hultzen , the second overall pick of the 2011 draft.