Cano exits after feeling ill, hopes to play Monday

BOSTON -- Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano took himself out of Sunday's 8-6 victory over the Red Sox in the middle of the third inning after coming down with an illness while on the field.

Cano was on defense with the Red Sox at bat in the bottom of the third when he began feeling light headed and gestured to manager Lloyd McClendon, who met him midway across the infield and walked him to the dugout.

"I just feel like I have the flu," Cano said after the Mariners completed a three-game sweep. "I got dizzy out there. I feel a little bit better now. Hopefully, I should be OK for tomorrow."

First baseman Logan Morrison missed Saturday's game with an illness and came back to play on Sunday, so the Mariners are hopeful Cano is dealing with the same situation and can be ready for Monday's game against Texas at Safeco Field.

"Robbie had a little viral thing that Morrison had," McClendon said. "That seemed like it was just a 24-hour bug, so hopefully he's OK tomorrow."

Cano was 0-for-2 and scored a run after grounding into a fielder's choice in the first inning. He flew out to center in the top of the third, then took the field for one batter before leaving the game.

The six-time All-Star leads the Mariners and is second in the American League with a .326 batting average and has 11 home runs and 70 RBIs in his first season with Seattle.

Brad Miller replaced Cano and went 1-for-2 with a double, a sacrifice fly and two RBIs. Miller lost the starting shortstop job last month to rookie Chris Taylor, but has adapted to the utility role previously held by Willie Bloomquist, who is out for the season following knee surgery.

"It was fun," Miller said of his fill-in duty at second base. "Obviously, I don't want him to come out. But I was ready to go. Once you get told you are going in, the adrenaline kicks in, I was loose and I was fine."