With Franklin still hobbled, Ackley starts at second

SEATTLE -- Dustin Ackley started at second base in place of Nick Franklin for the Mariners in Friday's homestand opener against the Angels. Franklin has been out since he injured his knee in a home-plate collision with A's catcher Derek Norris in Tuesday's win. Norris suffered a broken toe on the play, while Franklin needed five stitches on his knee.

"It was kind of weird," Franklin said. "I was just going in for the slide and I felt fine and then all of a sudden I just got up and immediately I felt it, so it's just one of those split-second things where his cleat came up and I caught his cleat."

The rookie second baseman said that he would be available as a pinch-hitter in Friday's game, joking that he would have to slide with his opposite leg forward if he got a hit.

Ackley -- the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft -- was drafted as a second baseman, but transitioned to the outfield in Triple-A earlier this season, due in large part to Franklin's emergence as the team's everyday second baseman. The 25-year-old has started just one game at second since May 27.

Franklin has been a bright spot in the Mariners lineup when healthy. Though he has struggled in August, the 22-year-old hit .266 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs in June and July.