Miller continues hot stretch with two-HR game

SEATTLE -- Brad Miller may have lost his starting shortstop job earlier this month, but he's found a way to keep helping the Mariners, as the newly ordained utility player hit a pair of home runs in Seattle's 4-2 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday at Safeco Field.

Miller, filling the designated hitter role, drove a pair of solo shots for Seattle's only damage against Rick Porcello. Miller accounted for two of the Mariners' five hits on the night, going 2-for-3 with a walk and extended his hitting streak to five games, during which he's batted .471 (8-for-17) with five runs, three doubles and three home runs.

"Obviously, it's pretty cut and dry for me," Miller said of the DH slot. "I'm just hitting, so I try to take advantage of that. I know that's how I can contribute that night, so I really have to focus when I get in there, and take advantage of it."

Miller has hit three homers in his past four games to give him four for the season. All four have come at Safeco Field, where the 25-year-old has hit .375, compared to .095 on the road.

"I'm just trying to string together some good at-bats," he said. "Obviously, this is the place I've played the most, but I'm just trying to get in there and be ready to hit."

That fact hasn't been lost on manager Lloyd McClendon, who is searching for offensive contributions anywhere he can find them and seems to have settled on Miller hitting second in the batting order for the time being.

"Bradley has been swinging the bat extremely well," McClendon said. "That was nice."

Miller has raised his batting average from .225 to .264 over his last five games, during which he's played three games at DH, one at shortstop and one in left field.