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Washburn throws complete game as Mariners edge A's

Apr 26, 2007 - 5:54 AM OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Jarrod Washburn was brilliant from start to finish.

Washburn pitched a complete game to outduel Joe Blanton as the Seattle Mariners posted a 2-0 triumph over the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a two-game series.

In his fourth start, Washburn (1-2) gave up just three hits with two strikeouts and two walks for his first win and lowered his ERA to 2.96.

"It was one of the best games I've ever pitched," Washburn said. "I wouldn't say it's the best stuff I ever had or anything like that. I was by no means dominating, I was just able to make them mis-hit the ball."

"He's thrown well for us," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. "He's thrown well for us three starts in a row and we haven't done the job behind him. He's certainly pitched well enough to be 3-0 instead of 1-2."

It was the 32-year-old's seventh complete game of his career and first since the 2005 campaign, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Washburn retired the first nine batters before getting into trouble in the fourth, when Shannon Stewart and Eric Chavez each singled. But the lefthander escaped when Mike Piazza grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Stewart reached again in the ninth, but Washburn got Chavez to hit into a game-ending double play to record his third career shutout.

Washburn was on the hill due to Tuesday's rainout in Texas, pushing his start back one day. It was the third time he had outings postponed this season because of weather conditions.

On April 3, Washburn held Oakland's offense to just two runs in six innings of an 8-4 triumph, but he did not figure in the decision. It was his first win vs. the A's since April 23, 2004 - spanning five starts.

"I've had some great games against the A's and some rough ones as well but they always give me a tough time," Washburn said. "They have a good disciplined lineup and very patient, and usually that gives me a tough time so I was able to get ahead with strike one and that's the whole key against a team like that."

Seattle supplied Washburn with early run support. Jose Guillen smacked his second homer in the second inning and Kenji Johjima belted his first homer in the eighth off Blanton.

"It was a hanging curve right in the middle," Guillen said. "I just got lucky."

Hargrove struggled with the decision to bring in closer J.J. Putz in the ninth for Washburn, who had thrown 104 pitches.

"I saw a guy that probably would have ripped my throat out if I'd taken him out of the game right then but that's OK, that's what I was looking for," Hargrove said. "He felt good, felt like he could get the job done and I told him OK."

Despite the loss, Blanton (2-1) was nearly as impressive, giving up two runs and six hits with six strikeouts for his first loss this campaign.

"I basically just treated it like my last game when I had eight or 10 runs," Blanton said. "I just tried to throw a lot strikes, get some ground balls and work fast. Sometimes the other guy is just a little better than you, though."