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Mariners outslug Tigers to avoid sweep

Sep 9, 2007 - 9:54 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners got offensive in order to avoid a three-game sweep to the Detroit Tigers.

The Mariners pounded out 19 hits and drove Tiger starter Jeremy Bonderman out of the game in the second inning en route to a 14-7 victory on Sunday.

The win kept Seattle (75-66) within five games of the New York Yankees (81-62) for the American League wild card. Detroit (77-66) is now four games behind the Yankees and 5 1/2 behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central. Cleveland plays at Anaheim Sunday night.

Jose Guillen had four hits and drove in three runs, Adrian Beltre had three hits and four RBI and Ichiro Suzuki scored four runs and added three hits for Seattle, which scored 13 runs in the first four innings.

Guillen put the Mariners ahead 2-0 in the first with a two-run double.

But Seattle starter Felix Hernandez gave the lead right back, allowing four runs in the bottom half of the first. Magglio Ordonez drove in a pair with a single, then Carlos Guillen brought him home with a double. Timo Perez drove in the fourth run with an RBI groundout.

"It was not my best start," Hernandez said. "I just pitched for the win, it was very important for us. I just wanted to throw strikes and get my pitches over the plate."

Bonderman could not hold the lead as the Mariners scored four times in the second. Beltre doubled home two runs and Jose Guillen drove home another run with a single.

Jason Grilli relieved Bonderman and served up a sacrifice fly to Ben Broussard, which put Seattle up 6-4.

Bonderman (11-9) pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.

"I wanted to help my team," Bonderman said. "But all I did was hurt my self and my team."

After the game, Bonderman was examined by team doctors for soreness in his right elbow.

"It doesn't feel good," Bonderman said. "I have a sharp pain in the elbow. The doctors are going to take some tests tomorrow and find out what it is.

"I had it for a while and it keep getting worse. It the same same thing that I had in 2003. Its my fault for not getting it taken care of sooner, it just made it worse. I just can't pitch right now."

Grilli allowed three runs in the third as the Mariners opened their lead to 9-2.

Hernandez (12-9) wasn't much better than Bonderman, but picked up the win thanks to his offensive support. The righthander allowed six runs on 10 hits in six innings, striking out four and walking three.

"Felix (Hernandez) wasn't great, but he did enough," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "That's the sign of a young pitcher turning the corner - he's able to get by on days when he doesn't have his good stuff.

"We had two wins on this trip, and he had both of them. That tells you everything right there."

"This was a great win," Jose Guillen said. "We needed it and I hope that it gives us momentum going home. Its simple as that."

Curtis Granderson hit his 21st homer of the season off Hernandez in the second - a solo shot to right field off Hernandez. Granderson finished with four hits.

Granderson became only the second player in major league history to have at least 30 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season. The only other was Wildfire Schulte in 1911.

"It was great to finally get the record." Granderson said. "Its been crazy for a couple of weeks with everyone talking about it. It was special because of the fans' reaction and amazing to be put in the same light as so many great players."