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Lofton's all-around effort propels Rangers past Mariners

Jun 2, 2007 - 7:11 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Kenny Lofton has long been known as one of the game's best leadoff hitters. But even after turning 40 on Thursday, he likes to show he can do a few other things.

Lofton made one of the best catches of the season to deny Adrian Beltre a two-run homer and came back in his next at-bat to plate the go-ahead run as the Texas Rangers posted a wild 9-8 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

After Richie Sexson homered in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game, 8-8, and Kenji Johjima singled to put the go-ahead run on, Beltre drove the first pitch he saw from reliever Joaquin Benoit (2-1) deep to left center.

However, he was robbed by Lofton in center field, who climbed the fence and perfectly timed his jump to take a sure homer - and two-run lead - away from Beltre and the Mariners.

"I saw it all the way, but you never know," Lofton said. "You've just got to go and try."

The center fielder alertly fired the ball back into the infield to double up Johjima, who had ran well past second base on the play.

"That was a game-changing play right there," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "If he doesn't get that ball, that's two runs. That saved the game for us."

Lofton came back in the top of the eighth and launched a fly ball deep enough to left to score Ian Kinsler, who doubled to open the frame and moved to third following Gerald Laird's bunt single. The leadoff hitter's sacrifice fly gave Texas its fourth and final lead of the contest.

"Each team kept fighting and kept fighting and kept fighting," Washington said. "It was a wild one but I'm so happy we came out on the good end of it."

Marlon Byrd and Victor Diaz each had three hits apiece for the Rangers, who won the game despite tying a club record by leaving 17 runners on base. The victory comes as a breath of fresh air for Texas, which won their first game in June after losing a franchise-worst 20 games in May.

Benoit, who entered with an 8-7 advantage and surrendered Sexson's homer, picked up the win as a result of Lofton's sacrifice fly. Akinori Otsuka bridged the gap to the sixth Rangers pitcher of the contest, closer Eric Gagne, who worked around a walk in the ninth to notch his fourth save in as many chances.

Sean Green (0-1) allowed two hits and was charged with the final run to take the loss. Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 25 games, breaking the club record set by Joey Cora in 1997. It is his sixth 20-plus game streak in his seven-year major league career. During the streak, he has recorded 17 multiple-hit games.

"He's (Ichiro) kind of like (Ken) Griffey," said Mariners interim manager John McLaren, who is filling in for Mike Hargrove while he attends his daughter's high school graduation in Cleveland. "Every night is an adventure. I think everybody is amazed at what he does. What can you say? He's a great player."

Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira left the game following the top of the third after getting hit under his left eye by a ball thrown from Ichiro on a play at the plate. He was diagnosed with a mild concussion and is listed as day-to-day.

Beltre was replaced by Willie Bloomquist in the top of the eighth and left the contest with a sprained left thumb diving for a hard grounder from Kinsler that skipped by the third baseman to open the top of the eighth. He is listed as day-to-day.