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Mariners top Rangers to end six-game losing streak

Apr 24, 2007 - 5:24 AM ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Perhaps the Seattle Mariners figured pitcher Cha Seung Baek was their good-luck charm against the Texas Rangers.

Ichiro Suzuki's bases-loaded triple and a strong performance by reliever Brandon Morrow keyed the Mariners in a 5-4 victory against the Rangers.

Baek, Seattle's starter, was recalled on Monday to take the place of staff ace Felix Hernandez, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his right forearm. In three career starts against Texas, the 6-4 righthander was 3-0 with an 0.83 ERA, but he ran into trouble in this one and did not get a decision.

"On the whole, (Baek) was good," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. "I thought he started to try to start doing too much in the fourth and fifth innings and got out of his rhythm."

While Baek's string of success against the Rangers came to an end, the Mariners still managed to pick up a victory and end a six-game losing streak. Baek allowed four runs, eight hits and two walks while striking out one in 4 1/3 innings.

"A lot of guys did a lot of good things tonight. The most obvious was Morrow's contribution," Hargrove said. "He was awfully good in a tough spot."

Morrow (1-0) earned his first career win after tossing 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. The righthander allowed one hit and two walks while striking out two. J.J. Putz retired the final four batters of the game to earn the team's first save of the season.

After Seattle jumped out to a 4-0 lead, Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead in half. The Rangers got more off Baek in the fifth as Frank Catalanotto tripled with one out and scored on Michael Young's single. Back-to-back singles by Mark Teixeira and Sammy Sosa allowed Young to score and tie the game at 4-4.

"I felt great," Baek said. "The first three innings I was throwing my cutters and sliders well. On Blalock's home run, it was way in and he just hit it."

Morrow replaced Baek following Sosa's hit and intentionally walked Blalock to load the bases, but he managed to escape the jam by striking out Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz.

"I had a lot of adrenaline going and I think it worked well for me," Morrow said. "I wasn't nervous and I was getting my velocity up there."

Adrian Beltre opened the seventh inning with a single and advanced to third when Jose Vidro followed with a base hit. Beltre crossed home plate with the go-ahead run on a groundout by Raul Ibanez.

Morrow and Putz held Texas in check the rest of the way.

"It was definitely nice to come out there with the adrenaline kicking in and have the game on the line," Putz said. "It was fun ... it was just a big W for us."

Seattle opened the scoring with a four-run outburst in the fourth inning off Texas starter Kevin Millwood (2-3). Singles by Ibanez and Jose Guillen and a walk to Yuniesky Betancourt loaded the bases with one out.

Jose Lopez singled to score Ibanez and the bases remained full. After Jamie Burke was called out on strikes, Suzuki tripled to give Seattle a 4-0 lead.

Millwood allowed five runs on 10 hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings.

"It was probably the best I've pitched all year," Millwood said. "I didn't feel like they hit too many balls tonight. If I pitch the way I did tonight, we'll win a lot of games."