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Olivo's blast lifts Mariners over Rays

Jun 6, 2011 - 1:08 AM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Miguel Olivo smacked a three-run homer off Joel Peralta in the eighth inning to give the Mariners a 9-6 win over the Rays in a back-and-forth finale of this four-game series.

"It's really tough, I let the team down, it's on me. (If I) go out there and do the job we probably have a chance to win, but I didn't, so it's on me," said Peralta.

Greg Halman's two-run triple in the seventh gave Seattle a 5-3 lead, but the Rays plated three off Jamey Wright (2-2) in the eighth to go in front.

The Mariners rallied for a run against J.P. Howell (0-1) in the bottom half before Olivo's blast provided the difference for the Mariners' sixth straight series win.

Halman had three hits in his 2011 debut and Ichiro Suzuki added a two-run triple for Seattle, which concluded a successful 7-3 homestand.

Ben Zobrist and Kelly Shoppach each recorded two hits and drove in a run for Tampa Bay, which has dropped four of five overall.

Both starters lasted seven innings but did not factor in the decision. Erik Bedard gave up three runs on eight hits while striking out seven for Seattle, while Wade Davis was charged with five runs on as many hits in his outing.

Davis was on the mound when Halman tripled in Adam Kennedy and Carlos Peguero in the seventh, but was in line for the victory after the Rays rallied in the eighth.

Zobrist and Matt Joyce each posted run-scoring doubles, and the latter scored the go-ahead run on Evan Longoria's pinch-hit single to right.

Seattle responded in its half, as Justin Smoak worked a one-out walk and Jack Cust beat the shift with a single to left. Kennedy's base hit to right tied it, and Olivo greeted Peralta with his third homer in as many games.

"He's a big-game player. He's had a lot of big hits in his career," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge about Olivo. "He wants to be up there in those situations and that's half the battle."

Brandon League hurled a 1-2-3 ninth to lock down his 16th save of the year.

The Rays went on top 3-0 after Shoppach doubled in a run in the second and B.J. Upton and Felipe Lopez each drove one in and inning later.

Suzuki broke out of an 0-fot-16 slump in Seattle's half of the third, tripling in a pair before scoring on Brendan Ryan's sacrifice squeeze bunt.

Game Notes

Halman played in nine games for the Mariners last year...Longoria did not start due to an injury to his left side...The Rays outhit the Mariners, 12-11.