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McLaren out, Riggleman in when Mariners visit Braves

Jun 20, 2008 - 2:23 PM Seattle (25-47) at Atlanta (36-38) 7:35 p.m. EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners are hoping another change can finally help them turn around their disappointing season.

The Mariners try to give newly-appointed interim manager Jim Riggleman his first win on Friday when they open a three-game interleague series against the Atlanta Braves.

Just three days after Seattle fired general manager Bill Bavasi, manager John McLaren suffered the same fate on Thursday as a result of the club's major league-worst 25-47 record.

McLaren, who was 68-88 over two seasons as Mariners' manager, failed to lead his team to the top despite a $117 million payroll and a variety of highly-priced acquisitions. However, many of those players have not lived up to expectations, including Friday's starter Erik Bedard (4-4, 4.14 ERA) - now thought to be on the trade block.

The 29-year-old lefthander, Bedard, who Bavasi acquired from the Baltimore Orioles during the offseason, has just two wins in his last nine starts with his last victory coming on May 28.

Jorge Campillo (2-1, 2.17) takes the mound for the Braves on Friday hoping to build on the momentum of his last start.

Despite suffering the loss, Campillo allowed just two runs and seven hits while striking out seven in eight innings during Sunday's 2-0 setback to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.