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Mariners win for fifth time in six games

Apr 30, 2007 - 1:11 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Both starting pitchers pitched well enough to earn wins but neither did.

Willie Bloomquist drove in two runs and Cha Seung Baek did not allow a hit through 5 2/3 innings as the Mariners topped the Kansas City Royals, 5-1, to win for the fifth time in six games.

Jamie Burke, Ichiro Suzuki and Richie Sexson each added an RBI for the Mariners, who had just two hits before breaking the game open in the seventh inning against Royals starter Brian Bannister.

"Everything was working today," Baek said. "I just wasn't thinking about pitching a no-hitter. I was just trying to throw strikes."

Baek retired the first nine batters before allowing a walk to David DeJesus to lead off the fourth inning and a free pass to rookie Alex Gordon in the fifth.

With two outs in the sixth inning, Mark Grudzielanek got the Royals first hit with a single to center field.

"I thought he was outstanding," said Burke, who caught the game. "He hit his spots real well and you can't ask more than what he did. He did a heck of a job, and that's what we needed."

Despite the effort, Baek did not factor in the decision as the Royals tied the game in the seventh - his final inning.

Bannister (0-1) was equally effective. After allowing an RBI double to Burke in the second inning, he retired 14 consecutive batters before running into trouble in the seventh.

Sexson walked to start the frame and was erased on Jose Guillen's fielder's choice. Yuniesky Betancourt followed with a double to the left-center field gap advancing Guillen to third.

After Burke popped up for the second out of the inning, Bloomquist hit a looper to center field that dropped in front of DeJesus who attempted to make a diving catch. Both Guillen and Betancourt scored and Bloomquist ended up with a double as the ball skipped past DeJesus.

The Royals thought they had gotten out of the inning a pitch earlier when Bloomquist's foul ball on a 3-2 pitch was secured by catcher John Buck. However, home plate umpire Chris Guccione correctly ruled that Buck had not caught the foul for a third strike, instead he had trapped it between his arm and chest.

"I was happy with the outing," Bannister said. "I kept our team in it and gave us a chance to win. It's just tough that it came down to a play like that."

Jimmy Gobble replaced Bannister at that point and promptly allowed an RBI single to Suzuki, giving the Mariners a 4-1 advantage. Adrian Beltre followed with an infield hit before Gobble got out of the inning with a flyout by Jose Vidro. Sexson padded the lead with an RBI single in the eighth.

After coasting through six innings, Baek got into trouble in the seventh.

Mike Sweeney led off the seventh with a double, courtesy of left fielder Raul Ibanez who allowed the ball to roll to the wall when he tried to make a diving catch. Emil Brown entered the game to pinch-run for Sweeney.

After Ross Gload made the first out of the inning with a popout, Reggie Sanders hit a Texas-League single to center fielder that plated Brown and tied the game, 1-1. Gordon followed with a double to left-center field, moving Sanders to third and ending Baek's outing.

Brandon Morrow (2-0) entered in relief and ended the threat by striking out Tony Pena and pinch-hitter John Buck. Morrow pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings to earn the win.

"Morrow came in and was absolutely golden," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. "The first out he got, he needed a strikeout and he got that."

In 6 1/3 innings, Baek allowed one run, four hits and two walks while striking out six. The 26-year-old righthander has been starting in place of injured staff ace Felix Hernandez, who has been out since being pulled in the first inning of his last start on April 19 with stiffness in his elbow. He is targeting a May 10 return date.

Hargrove evaded a question about Baek's immediate future. With Hernandez coming off the disabled list and starter Jeff Weaver (0-4) struggling with an 18.26 earned run average, Hargrove was asked if he was contemplating any changes in the rotation.

"That will work its way out," Hargrove said. "It's a legitimate question, but it's not fair to anybody if I comment on that right now."

Bannister allowed four runs - three earned - and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. The righthander, who was making his eighth career start, walked two and struck out one. He is the son of former major league pitcher Floyd Bannister, who pitched 15 seasons, which included stints with both the Mariners and the Royals.