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Betancourt helps Mariners end season with win

Sep 29, 2008 - 12:39 AM By Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Yuniesky Betancourt doubled in two runs in the fifth inning to help the Seattle Mariners rally to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, and end their disappointing season Sunday with a three-game winning streak and their first home sweep of the season.

Seattle ended its campaign with a 61-101 record, the second worst in the major leagues behind the Washington Nationals (59-102), who lost earlier in the day.

Mariners manager Jim Riggleman, who finished with a 36-54 record as skipper since taking over for John McLaren on June 20, tried to end the season with a positive message for the players.

"I just told them not to focus too much on the standings and any negativity, and take some of the good things that have happened into next season," Riggleman said. "We made some progress with some players and there were a lot of good things."

Riggleman was unsure about his own future with the team, which is awaiting the naming of a permanent general manager sometime before the end of October.

"I love managing," Riggleman said. "It's what makes me tick. Your competitive juices are flowing. It's exciting and I love it. I want to do it. I just can't say that I am the only guy that can do it."

Ichiro Suzuki, who began the day tied with Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox for the major league lead with 211 hits, had a double and an infield single to finish the season with 213.

Travis Buck, from nearby Richland, Washington, hit the first leadoff homer of his career and seventh of the season, and Chris Denorfia doubled in two more runs to help the A's take a 3-0 first-inning lead.

But the Mariners climbed back into the game with single runs in the first on Raul Ibanez's ground out to drive in Suzuki and Matt Tuiasosopo's grounder to plate Kenji Johjima in the second.

Ibanez, who finished the season hitting .293 with 110 RBI and 223 homers, is one of the question marks for the Mariners next season. He is a free agent and is considered unlikely to re-sign with the franchise where he has spent most of his 12-year career.

"I love the franchise, I love the fans, I love the city and my family loves it here, but we'll see what the future holds," Ibanez said. "I'd like to be here and I'd like to be in a competitive environment."

Seattle went ahead 4-3 in the fifth when Betancourt belted a triple to center after Luis Valbuena reached on a bunt single and was safe at second when pitcher Josh Outman threw away Suzuki's comebacker trying to get Valbuena at second for an error.

R.A. Dickey (5-8) started for the Mariners and pitched effectively after his rocky first inning. He held the A's scoreless after that, giving up only three more hits before leaving with two outs in the sixth.

J.J. Putz worked the ninth inning for his 15th save for Seattle.

Outman (1-2) took the loss for the Athletics, allowing eight hits, four runs - three earned - walking one and striking out five in six innings.

"I think being here for a full month was a huge confidence boost for next season, and it gives me a really good idea of what I can do at this level," Outman said.

Buck also doubled and singled and drove in a run, while Denorfia contributed a pair of hits and drove in two runs to pace a 10-hit attack.

"He's (Buck) been playing well and he's a great player for us," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He had a tough year with the injury (shin splints and later a concussion), but he grew a lot this season as a player both mentally and physically. He'll be great for us next year, too."

Oakland lost its fifth straight to complete the season with a 75-86 mark, its worst showing since going 74-88 in 1998.

"It was a long season," Geren said. "We had a lot of different players throughout, and a lot of injuries. We'll have to go an evaluate the season and get ready for next year."