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Miller, Marlins continue Mariners' struggles

Jun 17, 2008 - 6:15 AM By Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners shook things up in the front office on Monday. But it didn't seem to help on the field.

Andrew Miller scattered six hits in seven innings and Luis Gonzalez drove in a pair of runs to lead the Florida Marlins to a 6-1 victory over the struggling Mariners in an interleague contest at Safeco Field.

The 23-year-old lefthander evened his record at 5-5 as he won for the first time in his last five starts. Miller's seven innings matched his career high, and he walked two and struck out two in his first victory since May 22 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"Seven innings pitched and only one run, that's the second straight outing he's given us that's been good," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

"I didn't feel like I had the greatest stuff other than I had decent fastball command," Miller said. "I pitched with what I had and I'll take that every time out."

The loss was the eighth in a row at home - the longest home skid since 1996 - for the Mariners, who fired general manager Bill Bavasi earlier in the day.

Vice president and associate general manager Lee Pelekoudas will take over as the interim general manager, effective immediately.

Seattle was supposed to contend for the American League West crown but has struggled to a 24-46 record this season, worst in the majors. The Mariners were just swept at home in a three-game series by the Washington Nationals over the weekend.

It didn't get any better in this one.

Mariners starter Carlos Silva (3-8) gave up a pair of runs in the first inning, then settled down until the fifth when he was ejected from the game by first base umpire Bill Welke for arguing a close call on a potential double-play grounder by Jeremy Hermida.

"I didn't see the play at first," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "Silva's an emotional guy. Bill said he cussed him."

Matt Treanor doubled with one out and took third on Hanley Ramirez's bloop single. Hermida's fielder's choice scored Treanor for a 3-1 lead, and Welke called Hermida safe on a close play at first.

Hermida, who simply smiled when asked if he was safe or out on the play, said the Marlins were not unhappy to see Silva make an early departure.

"We got to him a little bit in the first inning, but he settled down nicely and started executing his pitches," Hermida said. "He was keeping us off balance and doing a good job of hitting the corners."

Silva, who has lost eight straight decisions, was looking for his first win since April 17 against the Oakland Athletics. He departed after giving up three runs and five hits, walking one and striking out four.

"Silva was throwing the ball a little rough in the first inning," McLaren said. "Then, he got his sinker going, and I thought he was throwing the ball extremely well."

A sacrifice fly by Cody Ross off reliever Ryan Rowland-Smith in the sixth inning extended the Marlins' lead to 4-1.

Florida made it 6-1 when Dan Uggla and Gonzalez hit back-to-back bases-loaded singles in the seventh off reliever Roy Corcoran.

Ichiro Suzuki extended his interleague hitting streak to 27 games when he led off the fifth with an infield hit to third.

After going to second on a groundout, Ichiro stole third for his 30th theft of the season and became only the 15th player in modern baseball history to record eight or more consecutive seasons with at least 30 steals.

The Marlins wasted no time scoring as Mike Jacobs' infield hit plated one run, and Gonzalez' sacrifice fly added another for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Seattle loaded the bases with none out in the fourth but managed just one run, on Kenji Johjima's sacrifice fly, as it cut Florida's advantage to 2-1.

"With runners on third and less than two out, we still have that problem," McLaren said.

Following the game, the Mariners optioned outfielder Wladimir Balentien to Class AAA Tacoma and recalled catcher Jeff Clement.