Sep 27, 2008 - 7:21 PM
0 shoutsBy Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Kenji Johjima's three-run homer capped a six-run first inning as the Seattle Mariners recorded a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.\
The win gave the Mariners a modest two-game winning streak but was only their third victory in 15 games.
After Ichiro Suzuki singled and Yuniesky Betancourt dropped a bunt down the third base line for a base hit, Raul Ibanez was safe on first baseman Daric Barton's fielding error to load the bases in the first.
Miguel Cairo walked to force in the first run, Wladimir Balentien hit a two-run single and Johjima belted his seventh homer of the season.
Cairo drove in another run when he singled in the eighth, extending Seattle's lead to 7-3.
Greg Smith, who had held the Mariners scoreless in two previous starts, settled down following the outburst and allowed just two more batters to reach before leaving after seven frames.
Smith (7-16) gave up six runs and five hits, walking two and striking out three. The 16 losses by the 24-year-old lefthander are the most for the club since Tom Candiotti went 11-16 in 1998.
Ryan Rowland-Smith (5-3) worked 6 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs and nine hits with five strikeouts and a pair of walks. He departed after Kurt Suzuki doubled and scored on Jack Cust's single to draw Oakland within 6-3.
Sean Green came on and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless frames to pick up his first career save.
From the Bleachers
-
OAKLAND: 3
SEATTLE: 7
Final
Sep 27 6:30 PM -
AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MIGUEL CAIRO SCORED YUNIESKY BETANCOURT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CAIRO ON FIRST, J LOPEZ ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3
SEATTLE 7 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: W BALENTIEN (.202, 1-FOR-3, 2 RBI)
Sep 27 6:22 PM -
AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 0 0 1
SEATTLE 6 6 4 0 (TOP 2)
CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - GREG SMITH
SEA - RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND:
Sep 27 4:34 PM -
AL
AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY WLADIMIR BALENTIEN SCORED YUNIESKY BETANCOURT AND
RAUL IBANEZ.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, W BALENTIEN ON FIRST, M CAIRO ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0
SEATTLE 3 BOTTOM, 1ST
DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: K JOHJIMA (.223, 6 HR, 36 RBI)
Sep 27 4:29 PM
