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Weaver in fine form, gets first win as Mariner

Jun 21, 2007 - 4:39 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- This is how a pitcher is supposed to help his team snap a season-high losing skid.

Jeff Weaver tossed a four-hitter to earn his first win of the season and the Seattle Mariners' snapped a six-game losing streak in a 7-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Weaver (1-6), who entered the game with a 10.97 ERA and an eight-game winless streak, dominated the Pirates, walking two and striking out five to halt his personal career-high six-game losing streak. The righthander retired 16 consecutive batters following Jack Wilson's leadoff single in the third until Ronny Paulino doubled to right-center with two outs in the eighth.

The contest provided Weaver with his first regular-season win since September 17, his first complete game since September 17, 2005 and his first shutout since September 12, 2005. This is the sixth shutout and 14th complete game for Weaver in his career. After allowing 39 earned runs over his first 27 innings as a Mariner, Weaver has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless frames.

Richie Sexson homered and drove in two runs as the Mariners handed lefthander Paul Maholm (3-10) the loss. Maholm, who was victimized by a pair of Pirates' errors, was tagged for nine hits and all six runs in his seven innings.

Raul Ibanez also homered for Seattle, which improved to 27-15 in games in which they hit at least one home run.

The Mariners jumped to a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the second inning. Kenji Johjima hit a grounder to third and wound up on second on third baseman Jose Bautista's throwing error.

Adrian Beltre singled to score Johjima and ended up on third when left fielder Jason Bay's errant throw got by the catcher. Sexson's infield single to third scored Beltre with the second run.

Ichiro Suzuki led off the third with an infield single to short for a 15-game hitting streak, then stole second and third where he scored on Jose Lopez's groundout for a 3-0 advantage. Ibanez singled with two outs and Johjima followed a walk to Jose Guillen with a run-scoring double which made it 4-0.

The Mariners took a 5-0 lead in the fourth on Sexson's 12th homer and second in as many nights and made it 6-0 on a run-scoring double play ground out in the seventh.

Freddy Sanchez had two hits for the Pirates, who were shut out for the seventh time this season.