Mariners defeated in 13, 3-2

SEATTLE – Tomas Perez’s sacrifice fly scored Jimmy Rollins in the 13th inning as the Philadelphia Phillies edged the Seattle Mariners 3-2 Thursday night at Safeco Field.

Rollins tripled with one out in the 13th and Mariners reliever Julio Mateo (2-2) intentionally walked the next two batters to bring up Perez.

Raul Ibanez had a solo homer for the Mariners to tie the game 2-2 in the eighth.

Beltre returning?

Ailing third baseman Adrian Beltre could be back in the Seattle Mariners’ lineup as soon as Saturday against the New York Mets.

Manager Mike Hargrove said Beltre – who strained his left hamstring Sunday at Washington – is “feeling better.”

“He did a lot of work (Wednesday),” Hargrove said. “The plan is to work him out (today), to do some running drills and get him in the lineup Saturday or Sunday.”

Beltre is hitting .244 – .282 in June – with five home runs and 30 RBIs.

Dave Hansen made his third consecutive start at third base Thursday.

“Dave has made all the plays so far,” Hargrove said. “There’s nothing not to like. He’s had some good at-bats, too.”

Worth another look

When Gil Meche struggled earlier this season, he would often find his way to the team’s video room for a look at what went wrong.

After his best start of the season Tuesday night, the right-hander was back in the room. What gives?

“I watch every start, whether it’s good or bad,” Meche said. “I think you can get something out of both of them. I really don’t like looking at the bad starts. It’s fun to watch the good ones.”

Meche was plenty good during a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, yielding three hits and one run over eight innings.

He improved to 6-4 and lowered his ERA to 4.38 – the lowest it’s been all season.

In the video room, the 26-year-old took note of where his lead (left) arm was during his delivery.

“I could see whether my left arm was pulling toward the plate (like it’s suppose to) or if it was off line,” he said. “I tried to be more aggressive with keeping my (left) side in line.”

Against the Phillies, Meche was able to accomplish what he has struggled with most in 2005 – keep the ball down.

“I have always been a guy where it’s easy for me to elevate a pitch,” he said. “But I was able to keep the ball down … around the knees. I wasn’t trying to overthrow the ball. I just let things happen.”

And let them happen quickly. Meche and veteran catcher Pat Borders talked at length before the game Tuesday about working with a quicker tempo.

That showed in the box score, as the game last just 2 hours, 4 minutes.

That made Meche’s latest trip to the video room a satisfying one.

Morse impresses

Hargrove was asked if he’s surprised at how well rookie shortstop Mike Morse has played.

“I have been pleasantly pleased,” Hargrove said. “You never know with a young kid how he’ll react.”

From the looks of it, the 23-year-old Morse – promoted from Class AAA Tacoma on May 31 – has reacted well to his new surroundings.

Morse took a .395 average into Thursday’s game before picking up three more hits. He hit his first major league home run in a 5-1 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday.

Morse’s emergence might make for an interesting dilemma when shortstop Pokey Reese comes of the disabled list.