Mariners 3B Beltre hits for cycle

Sep 2, 2008 - 4:51 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre recorded the second cycle of the day on Monday and the fifth of the season by accomplishing the feat against the Texas Rangers.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was first time that two cycles were achieved on the same day since Bobby Veach of the Detroit Tigers and George Burns of the New York Giants on September 17, 1920.

Beltre's performance came approximately four hours after Arizona's Stephen Drew hit for the cycle. The 29-year-old Beltre homered in the second, singled in the fourth and doubled in the seventh. He completed the cycle by ripping an RBI triple to right-center in the eighth inning.

"I didn't know I needed a triple for the cycle," Beltre said. "I hit the ball and started running because I didn't know if (Josh) Hamilton was going to catch it.

"It's something special. I'm not sure if I've seen one before."

Beltre joins Drew, Minnesota's Carlos Gomez, Mark Kotsay then of the Atlanta Braves, and Washington's Cristian Guzman as players who have accomplished the feat this season. He is the first member of the Mariners to hit for the cycle since John Olerud did so against the San Diego Padres on June 16, 2001.

For Beltre, it was his third five-hit game of his career. His bid for a six-hit game ended when he grounded out in the ninth.

Texas manager Ron Washington alertly pointed out that three of Beltre's hits - including his solo homer - came with an 0-2 count.

"Beltre is known to be a darn good hitter," he said. "You can't make mistakes to him on 0-2 counts."

Seattle manager Jim Riggleman agreed and credited Beltre for his toughness.

"I'm happy for him," Riggleman said. "He plays through pain. He's done so many things - winning a Gold Glove, hitting 48 home runs in a season. His bigger body of work is the real accomplishment."