M’s send struggling outfielder Aoki to Triple-A Tacoma

Another lifetime major leaguer will make a pit stop in Tacoma over the next few weeks.

Outfielder Nori Aoki, who has played 598 games in the big leagues, including opening this season as the leadoff hitter for the Mariners, was optioned Friday to Triple-A Tacoma.

Part of Aoki’s demotion had to do with Seattle’s need for fresh arms for an overworked bullpen. Pitchers David Rollins and Donn Roach were promoted from Tacoma, and were available to pitch Friday.

But the other part of it had to do with Aoki’s struggles against left-handed pitching. The 34-year-old native of Japan is batting .177 with one extra-base hit in 79 at-bats against left-handers this season.

“Nori considers himself an everyday player,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “And to be an everyday player, you’ve got to hold your own against the (left-handed pitchers).”

Through interpreter Kosuke Inaji, Aoki said he was not surprised.

“I haven’t been able to produce as I always do — up to my standards,” Aoki said. “That is the way MLB works.”

Aoki has played in the minors on two occasions — both on rehab assignments. The most recent time came last season with the San Francisco Giants, when he spent four games with Triple-A Sacramento after returning from a broken leg.

Not only has Aoki been struggling at the plate, he was noticeably limping around the clubhouse after fouling a pitch off his foot during the last road trip.

Aoki insists he is fine physically.

“One of my strengths is not getting injured, so right now I feel great,” Aoki said.

Aoki said he has not decided when he will report to the Rainiers. He has 72 hours to join the club.

“I feel like I haven’t been able to contribute to the team (Mariners) as much as I’d like to. On the other hand, it motivates me to come back again as fast as I can.

“Of course, there is still a lot of the season left, so hopefully I can come back and help the team out in the second half.”

FLURRY OF MOVES

Follow closely, because the M’s made plenty of moves Friday.

▪ To Triple-A Tacoma: Aoki and reliever Tom Wilhelmsen, whom Servais said could rejoin the M’s after three or four outings.

▪ Up to the big club: Right-hander Roach, who was a starting pitcher in Tacoma, and left-hander Rollins, who pitched one-plus innings of scoreless relief for the Mariners on June 17 in Boston before he was sent back down. Roach is expected to serve in a long-relief role, Servais said.

▪ Recently acquired Wade LeBlanc was technically promoted from Tacoma to start Friday night for the Mariners, even though he had not pitched for the Rainiers.

▪ On the disabled list: Right-hander Adrian Sampson (elbow), who went on the 15-day DL. Reliever Tony Zych (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day DL. Servais said Zych is not close to returning to the big club.

“TERRIBLE” TIME TO GET HURT

Sampson considers himself a “pretty tough guy” normally.

So to remove himself before throwing the first pitch of his scheduled start Thursday in Detroit was a bummer.

“For me to come out of the game, there has got to be something going on,” Sampson said.

The Skyline High School graduate said he felt good throwing in the bullpen before the game, but afterward his elbow “kind of tightened up” while he was warming up on the mound.

“First time that’s happened,” Sampson said. “Obviously, it was on the big stage, and it was pretty terrible.”

ROLLINS RETURNS

After pitching two-plus innings for the Rainiers on Wednesday, Rollins was given Thursday off by manager Pat Listach,

So he hung out in the dugout, not in the bullpen.

And he got a few crazy looks from teammates.

“Guys were looking at me different, messing with me more,” Rollins said. “I was like, ‘What is wrong with you? Leave me alone.’ ”

They knew another promotion for Rollins was imminent.

Fortunately, the Rainiers are in Sacramento, California, so it was a two-hour flight for Rollins on Friday morning.

“I am pumped to be back,” he said.

MINOR DETAILS

Nick Neidert struck out a career-high 12 hitters in six innings, and Clinton (Single-A Midwest League) opened the second half of the season with a 6-1 victory over Kane County on Thursday night.

Neidert allowed the one run, and won his fourth game of the season. Center fielder Luis Liberato and catcher Arturo Nieto combined for half of Clinton’s 10 hits.

LOOKING BACK

It was four years ago — June 25, 2012 — when Erasmo Ramirez became the eighth rookie in Mariners history to have a double-digit strikeout game (10).

Unfortunately, Ramirez was on the losing end of a 1-0 game against Oakland. Guess who victimized the right-hander with a solo homer in the second inning? It was current M’s outfielder Seth Smith.

SHORT HOPS

Ace pitcher Felix Hernandez (right calf) resumed his throwing program, stretching out to 120 feet in long toss on Friday. … Closing in on his one-year anniversary for his last game, reliever Charlie Furbush (shoulder) has thrown bullpen sessions. In fact, he did one in Tacoma during the M’s last road trip. His last MLB appearance was July 7, 2015. … After pitching three-plus innings Thursday in place of Sampson, Vidal Nuno was unavailable Friday. … In the 20 years of interleague play, the Mariners have posted winning records against the National League in seven of them — but haven’t since 2009 (11-7). They were 6-1 this season heading into the game Friday.

ON TAP

The Mariners are back in action at 7:10 p.m. Saturday for the second game of the three-game series against the Cardinals. Right-hander Nathan Karns (5-2, 4.38 ERA) will pitch for Seattle; Mike Leake (5-4, 4.00) counters for St. Louis.

The game can be seen on Root Sports, and heard on 710-AM.

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 8:59 PM with the headline "M’s send struggling outfielder Aoki to Triple-A Tacoma."