"Failing to achieve real victories these days, the ones that appear in the win column, the Mariners are having to fall back on the moral variety.

"I thought it was a great effort by the ballclub," said manager Don Wakamatsu, after a 3-2 defeat to Toronto Wednesday night at Safeco Field. "We came up short, but coming off a devastating road trip, these guys came to play."

The season may be spinning toward oblivion, but evidence lately suggests the Mariners will at least try to slow its momentum. As Wakamatsu said, they battled, coming back from a 3-0 deficit, getting a gutty effort from emerging right-hander Doug Fister, and taking Jays closer Kevin Gregg down to the final pitch with the tying and winning runs on base.

"It's a hit here or there, a play here or there," said Milton Bradley.

Milton Bradley? The M's activated him before the game, ending a two-week stint for the volatile left fielder on the restricted list. Despite not having encountered any live pitching during his time away, Bradley had a pair of hits in four trips, albeit ones that didn't wear out the baseball."