Rhodes’ Injury Pains Piniella

A series already brimming with clutch hits and superb starting pitching can now boast of a little intrigue and controversy.

Mariner Manager Lou Piniella was peeved when Oriole Manager Davey Johnson pulled reliever Arthur Rhodes after Rhodes had warmed up for the top of the ninth. Rhodes, who pitched 2 1/3 innings of hitless relief and struck out four, left because of tightness in his left forearm.

“I think it was a ploy to keep my pitcher [Jeff Fassero] sitting longer,” Piniella said. “If [Rhodes] was hurt, they could have had someone warming up. Instead, my starting pitcher, who had a shutout, had to sit for another 10-12 minutes.”

Johnson laughed off Piniella’s charge. “I wish I was that smart,” he said.

The Mariners, of course, had the last laugh. Jay Buhner and Paul Sorrento homered off Rhodes’ replacement, Terry Mathews, in the ninth for what turned out to be the difference in a 4-2 Seattle victory. *

Oriole right fielder Eric Davis was too tired from Friday’s chemotherapy session to start Saturday, but he was available to pinch-hit and is expected to return to the lineup tonight. . . . Seattle left-hander Jamie Moyer, who left Game 2 in the fifth inning because of a strained muscle in his left forearm, threw for about five minutes Saturday and said his chances are “pretty decent” of returning to the rotation if the Mariners advance to the League Championship Series.

TODAY’S GAME

MARINERS’ RANDY JOHNSON

(20-5, 2.28 ERA)

vs.

ORIOLES’ MIKE MUSSINA

(15-8, 3.20 ERA)

Camden Yards, 1 p.m.

TV--ESPN

* Update--After Mussina and the Orioles beat Johnson and the Mariners, 9-3, in Game 1, Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said Johnson would start Game 4. After Game 2 Thursday, Piniella said rookie Ken Cloude would start Game 4. Piniella then changed his mind again, opting to go with Johnson on three days’ rest. “We’ve got to go with our ace,” Piniella said. “He’s been our horse all year, and there’s no need to change anything now.” Mussina, who gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings of Game 1, will be starting on three days’ rest for the first time this season, “but I only threw 95 pitches the other day, so it’s not a huge problem,” he said. (BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

SERIES AT A GLANCE

(Orioles lead series, 2-1)

* Game 1: Baltimore 9, Seattle 3

* Game 2: Baltimore 9, Seattle 3

* Game 3: Seattle 4, Baltimore 2

* Game 4: Today at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

* Game 5: Monday at Baltimore, 1 p.m.*

* if necessary