Cruz (ankle) eyes Saturday return to lineup

Cruz's two-run big fly SEATTLE -- Mariners manager Scott Servais' phone rang Friday morning with the familiar voice of Nelson Cruz on the other end.

"He let me know where he was at," Servais said with a smile, "and very sternly said he was ready to go."

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As welcome as that word is for the Mariners, Servais and the club's medical staff didn't clear Cruz to play quite yet, putting him through some running drills on the bases and letting him take batting practice with the team prior to Friday night's series opener with the A's.

But Cruz -- who sprained his right ankle slipping on the dugout steps after hitting a home run in the season's second game -- fully expects to come…