DH Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer in Sunday's victory. "When you need a big hit, he comes through," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. It gave Cruz 70 RBIs entering the All-Star break, the first Mariners player to reach that mark since Raul Ibanez in 2006. Cruz and 2B Robinson Cano, who have both recently been hobbled by leg injuries, will represent the Mariners at the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Miami. "I hope both of our guys don't play in the All-Star Game," Servais said, only half-joking. "One at-bat, get them out and get them rest."

DH Nelson Cruz hit his 300th career home run as the Mariners snapped an eight-game home losing streak by beating Oakland 7-2 Friday night. "It's special," said Cruz, who drove in five runs to take the major league lead with 68 RBIs this season. "It's a long way from the Dominican. Never in my dreams would I hit 300 home runs in the big leagues."

DH Nelson Cruz, who has battled calf and knee injuries over the past month, was thrown out at second base Wednesday night against Kansas City after hitting a ball that came within inches of clearing the left-field wall. "That he's even able to get out there and play ... I appreciate the toughness," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He's grinding it out and gimping around on the field. As hard as he hit that ball to be thrown out at second ... he's turning doubles into singles." Cruz did hit his 299th career home run Wednesday. It was his 15th of the season but his first since June 4.

DH Nelson Cruz hit a leadoff home run in the third inning Wednesday. It was Cruz's 15th of the season but just his first since June 4, as he has been battling calf and knee injuries.

DH Nelson Cruz, the Mariners' lone All-Star Game representative, was back in his customary cleanup spot after missing two starts with a right knee injury suffered sliding into base Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. "I didn't know if he'd be available (Tuesday) or not," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "You've got to trust the player. He's a veteran and he knows his body more than I know his body." Cruz, who struck out as a pinch-hitter Monday night, lined a two-run single off the wall in right-center field in his first at-bat Tuesday. He went 2-for-2, also reaching base on a walk and a hit by pitch. The two RBIs gave him a team-leading 61 this season, marking the third time in his career he has reached 60 by the All-Star break.

DH Nelson Cruz, the Mariners' lone All-Star Game representative, didn't start for the third consecutive game after suffering a right knee injury sliding into second base Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels. "He's better but not (good) enough to the point we can put him out there," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Cruz came on as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the seventh and struck out to end the inning.

DH Nelson Cruz was out of the lineup, resting a sore right knee he injured sliding into second base in Saturday's game. "I kind of slid late and landed on the knee," Cruz said. "It was pretty sore but I don't think it's anything serious." Cruz ranks second in the AL in RBI with 69. But he has oddly gone 22 games without a home run, his last coming on June 4.

DH Nelson Cruz went 1 for 5 with a double Friday against the Angels, extending his homerless streak to 21 games. His last home run came on June 4, but his 14 homers trail only 2B Robinson Cano (16) for the team lead. Despite the home run drought, Cruz still ranks second in the American League with 59 RBIs.

DH Nelson Cruz, who is battling a right calf injury, appeared to move gingerly around the bases when he scored from second on a single by Kyle Seager in the second inning, but beat out a potential double-play grounder in the eighth. "He's OK," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "Nellie will give you everything he's got."

DH Nelson Cruz returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a right calf injury. Cruz went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk. "He's in (the lineup) unless he tells me he's not," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He wants to be in there and we need him to be in there." Cruz is batting .295 with a team-leading 14 home runs and 46 RBIs, tied for the American League lead with Minnesota's Miguel Sano.

DH Nelson Cruz wasn't in the lineup for the second consecutive game because of a right calf injury. Cruz, who said an MRI showed "a little tear" in the calf, expects to play Friday when Toronto comes to town. "It's something I can manage," said Cruz, who is batting .299 with a team-leading 14 home runs and 46 RBIs. "He's at that point in his career when he knows when to push it and when to back off," Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

DH Nelson Cruz wasn't in the lineup Wednesday and could miss more time because of tightness in his right calf. "He's been trying to play through it but (Tuesday night) it was barking a little bit," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. Cruz was taken out of a May 30 game at Colorado and again in the series opener against Minnesota. Servais said Cruz underwent an MRI on Wednesday. "He's been swinging the ball very well, but we're trying to play big picture," Servais said. Cruz is batting .299, leads the Mariners with 14 home runs and the American League with 46 RBIs.

DH Nelson Cruz was removed for a pinch-runner after his run-scoring single in the fourth inning Tuesday gave Seattle a seven-run lead in a 12-3 victory. Manager Scott Servais said Cruz, who leads the American League with 46 RBIs, was lifted as precautionary move after the slugger felt some tightness in his calf. "He knows his body really well," Servais said.

DH Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer in the first inning Sunday, after also going deep Saturday. It was the 47th time in his career he homered in consecutive games. His career high is five straight, which he's accomplished twice.

DH Nelson Cruz hit his 13th home run of the season, and his 100th as a Mariner, on his bobblehead night Saturday. He reached the milestone in 362 games with the Mariners, the fastest by any player in franchise history. Richie Sexson accomplished the feat in 463 games and Alex Rodriguez in 470.

DH Nelson Cruz, who left Thursday's game after being hit on the left hand by a pitch from Colorado's Kyle Freeland in the third inning, was back in the lineup Friday for the series opener against Tampa Bay. Mariners manager Scott Servais said Cruz suffered a bruise on his hand but hit some balls in the indoor batting cage Friday afternoon and was deemed ready to go. "It's tough not to put him in the lineup," Servais said of Cruz, who leads the American League with 42 RBIs.

DH Nelson Cruz left the game after being hit in the left hand by a pitch from Colorado's Kyle Freeland in the third inning. "They're going to run some more tests," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "Hopefully it's not a broken bone or anything like that."

Seattle Mariners shortstop Jean Segura and designated hitter Nelson Cruz both left Thursday's game against the Colorado Rockies with injuries.Cruz, who entered play as the American League leader in RBIs with 42, was hit by a pitch on the left hand from Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland in the third inning. Segura, who began the day as the AL's leading hitter with a .344 batting average, was injured on an awkward slide into second base in the fourth inning.After staying down for more than a minute, Segura was helped off the field by assistant athletic trainer Rob Nodine and first-base coach Casey Candaele.The Mariners announced Segura was undergoing further examination on his right ankle.--The Miami Marlins have established a trust for the mother and daughter of former ace Jose Fernandez via a $700,000 contribution from Major League Baseball, the Miami Herald reported.Fernandez, who was a two-time All-Star pitcher, was killed along with two others in an early morning boating accident on... [More]

DH Nelson Cruz, who left Tuesday's game at Coors Field in the second inning with right calf tightness, was back in the lineup Wednesday. Cruz, who was playing right field in the National League park, walked in the second inning Tuesday and scored on 3B Kyle Seager's home run before leaving. "He came directly to me and gave me a heads-up. That's all I needed," Mariners manager Scott Servais said of pulling Cruz. "We need him in the lineup. He's a great weapon to run out there." It was apparent Cruz was being cautious Wednesday, as he only took second on a single by Seager in the second inning and barely scored ahead of Seager on a two-run double by 1B Danny Valencia.

RF Nelson Cruz left the game in the middle of the second with tightness in his right calf. Cruz said he felt something in the calf when he took off hard on a drive to right by Kyle Seager that cleared the fence for a two-run homer. Manager Scott Service said, "He should be fine tomorrow. I trust Cruzie, and he knows his value to the club. ..He took off hard running right away, and he felt it, he said,'Hey Skip, I don't want to do anything stupid.' "