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Ibanez's homer sends Mariners to thrilling comeback win

Jun 9, 2007 - 7:36 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- If winning after a big comeback like the San Diego Padres did on Thursday is one of the best feelings, then losing a contest after making another rally has to be one of the worst.

Cla Meredith yielded a solo homer to Raul Ibanez in the 11th inning after the San Diego Padres erased a four-run deficit in a 6-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

One night after San Diego scored five runs in the ninth to knock off the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ibanez took the fourth pitch of the inning from Meredith (2-4), the sixth Padres pitcher of the night, over the fence in left for a home run - his fourth hit of the game.

"I was just trying to get on base, and I got more than what I bargained for," Ibanez said. "(The Padres) play like a first-place club and they play like a great team. Even when we were up by (four), you knew that at any point, they could come back. They've got great (pitching) and they play great defense, so they're a tough team."

"I threw a strike on the outer half, near the plate, and Raul Ibanez, he's not seeing his first go-round," Meredith said. "He's a good hitter. He took me 'oppo' (opposite field) in Petco (Park). Obviously, I'm not happy with it. I didn't get the club back in the dugout with a tie ballgame to give us a chance to win."

The blast was notable as it not only provided the margin for the victory, but it was the slugger's first homer in 41 contests and second of the season after hitting 33 home runs a season ago.

"I knew I had hit it pretty well, but I haven't hit one in a while so I wasn't sure," Ibanez said. "I knew that I wasn't getting the ball in the air and I haven't been driving the ball as well this year. I know it's a tough park to hit it out."

"(The home run) came at a real good time," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. "If you had to choose a time to do it, this was the time."

Ed O'Flaherty (2-0) retired the only batter he faced in the bottom of the 10th before turning it over to Seattle closer J.J. Putz, who recorded his 16th save in as many chances and his 18th consecutive dating back to last season.

"(Putz) is good," Ibanez said. "When J.J. comes in, you expect that the game is over, and it's a good feeling."

Seattle needed Ibanez's heroics as they blew a 5-1 lead in the seventh inning as the Padres crossed the plate four times in the frame. Marcus Giles' infield single scored Russell Branyan. When shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt threw wide of first in his attempt to get Giles, Hiram Bocachica also scored and chased Mariners starter Miguel Batista.

Reliever George Sherrill came on to face pinch hitter Kevin Kouzmanoff, and the 25-year-old rookie roped a double to left-center to plate Cruz and Giles and tie the game at 5-5.

"It was a great comeback," Padres manager Bud Black said. "(We were) down, 5-0, against a guy who was pitching great (Batista). It was great to see. We just fell a little short. It was a good ballgame."

Jose Lopez and Kenji Johjima each had three hits for the Mariners, who won their fifth game in six contests.

Branyan had two hits and scored a run for the Padres, who saw an end to the five-game winning streak and six straight victories at Petco Park.

Seattle used a four-run fifth to build a 5-1 lead and knock San Diego starter Justin Germano from the game. Richie Sexson stroked a double to left to score Jose Guillen and Ibanez before Johjima followed with a double to drive in Sexson.

Betancourt extended his career-best hitting streak to 19 games with two hits.