Mariners send ousted closer Wilhelmsen to minors

Seattle, WA – Less than a week after being removed from the closer's role, Seattle Mariners pitcher Tom Wilhelmsen was optioned to Triple- A Tacoma on Tuesday.

Wilhelmsen, who saved 29 games for the Mariners last season and had 24 through the first four months of this 2013 campaign, hasn't pitched since being tagged for four runs while failing to record an out during Seattle's ninth-inning implosion against Boston this past Thursday at Fenway Park.

The right-hander entered the bottom of the ninth with the Mariners holding a five-run lead, before the Red Sox scored six times to pull out an 8-7 victory.

Rookie Danny Farquhar served as Seattle's closer during this past weekend's series in Baltimore and converted both of his save opportunities.

Interestingly, Wilhelmsen started Tacoma's game against Iowa on Tuesday. The 29-year-old, who has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen since reaching the majors in 2011, served up a pair of homers and three runs in a two-inning stint.

The Mariners recalled reliever Carter Capps from Tacoma in a corresponding move. The hard-throwing righty began the season with Seattle and appeared in 33 games, but was sent to Triple A in mid-July after posting a 6.37 ERA.

Capps allowed just three runs -- two earned -- over 11 innings in seven outings for the Rainiers following the demotion.