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Washburn, Mariners hand Padres sixth straight loss

Jun 28, 2008 - 6:21 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Jarrod Washburn pitched 7 2/3 solid innings and the Seattle Mariners used a three-run fourth to defeat the San Diego Padres, 5-2, in the opener of a three-game interleague series Friday.

Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Lopez each collected three hits and Adrian Beltre drove in three runs for the Mariners (29-50), who have won three of their last four games but still own the major's worst record.

Chase Headley homered and Brian Giles had three hits for the Padres, who have lost a season-high six straight games and 10 of their last 11 contests.

Washburn (3-7) blanked San Diego for six innings before surrendering a two-run shot to Headley in the seventh, but recovered to earn his first victory since May 5. The 33-year-old lefthander walked one batter intentionally and struck out two.

"I only made one mistake to righthanders and that was the pitch to Headley," Washburn said. "I hate intentionally walking guys, but it worked out for us. The last two times out I haven't been tired as early as I have some of the times."

Brandon Morrow entered the game in the eighth after Brian Giles tripled and Washburn intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez. Morrow retired Kevin Kouzmanoff on a groundout to end the threat and worked a perfect ninth to earn his third save in as many chances.

Seattle had no shortage of scoring opportunities throughout the contest, as they stranded a franchise-record 18 runners on base, including at least one in each inning except for the seventh.

"Eighteen left on is a lot of guys feeling like they could've had a few more RBI," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "The situational hitting was kind of not there tonight, but you've got to give (Wolf) credit; whenever he had to make a pitch early in the ballgame to get out of it, he did."

Beltre's two-run single in the fourth capped the three-run outburst that chased San Diego starter Randy Wolf (5-7) and provided all the support Washburn needed. Kenji Johjima doubled home Richie Sexson in the sixth to tack on an insurance run in the sixth to push the lead to 4-0.

"I'd make some good pitches, but then I'd fall behind," Wolf said. "I just was not making my pitch. It's frustrating when it goes that way."

After Headley's homer - the rookie's third of the season - pulled San Diego to 4-2, Beltre singled home Willie Bloomquist in the ninth to account for the final score.

"We had a lot of opportunities, and we probably didn't do as well as we want to," Beltre said. "But we got the job done, we got a win. We had the lead the whole game, and the bottom line is, if we end up winning the game, we don't care about runners left on."

Wolf lost his third straight start, lasting a season-low 3 1/3 innings and allowing three runs. The 31-year-old lefthander struck out two and walked five.

"I don't know if there was one thing you could point a finger at," Padres manager Bud Black said. "(Wolf's) secondary pitches, the curve, slider, change weren't working. He just couldn't quite get a feel for it. He walked a tightrope and almost escaped."