Worth noting

• With a stretch of 36 games in 37 days and some difficult travel, McClendon continued trying to do what he could Friday to keep his players fresh. Veteran backup catcher John Buck got the start in place of Mike Zunino for the second straight game.

"Zunino is fine. He'll catch probably all three day games [in the next three days]," McClendon said.

• First baseman Justin Smoak was also back in the lineup Friday after being replaced Wednesday by Willie Bloomquist.

"[Smoak has] had two days to rest up and get off that leg," McClendon said. "Hopefully he'll get back on the right path and start swinging the bat the way he's capable of swinging."

• The Mariners will hold a brief pregame ceremony prior to Tuesday's 7:10 p.m. PT game to honor Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter as he makes his final Safeco Field appearance in the three-game series from Tuesday to Thursday.

• Going into Friday's series opener, the Mariners were 12-5 over their last 17 road games since April 29, tied for the best mark in the Majors in that span. In those games, the Mariners averaged 5.3 runs per game while the pitching staff posted a 2.91 ERA.