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Beltre, Mariners continue to roll

Jul 13, 2007 - 6:38 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The All-Star break did not seem to cool down the red-hot Adrian Beltre.

Beltre's two-run single highlighted a bizarre fifth-inning rally and Felix Hernandez pitched effectively into the seventh as the Seattle Mariners came from behind to post their fourth straight win, a 3-2 triumph over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

The Mariners took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on an unusual play. With the bases loaded, Beltre delivered a base hit to right off Tigers starter Andrew Miller (4-3), plating Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen.

Trying to advance on a throw home, Beltre was called safe at second and took off for third as Detroit shortstop Carlos Guillen frantically tried to tag him. Carlos Guillen eventually dropped the ball for an error, which allowed Richie Sexson to score a third run.

"I really don't know how the rule reads," Miller said. "I'm sure the umpires do, but it definitely was a big play, it changed the game. That play shouldn't have happened if I'd made a better pitch."

Moments later, Miller stepped off the pitching rubber and threw to Carlos Guillen at second for an appeal. Second base umpire Bruce Froemming called Beltre out for missing the bag, but all three runs counted because the play was not over.

"Fortunately, Beltre got the great big hit for us and he kept it alive for us to score," said Mariners manager John McLaren, who won for the first time at home since taking over for Mike Hargrove. "It was the big play of the game."

"It was kind of confusing," Beltre said of the play. "I thought they might have called Sexson out on the play. But that ended up being the winning run, and we'll take that anytime."

Beltre has driven in a run in seven straight games. The Dominican is 13-for-24 (.542) with three home runs and 13 RBI in that span.

Hernandez (6-4) pitched 6 1/3 innings, surrendering two runs and 10 hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The 21-year-old righthander is 3-0 with a 1.75 ERA in his last five starts.

"The first two innings, I felt lousy and I was trying to make adjustments," Hernandez said. "I was struggling with my mechanics. I tried to battle and I did a pretty good job."

Hernandez worked his way out of big trouble in the fourth, when the Tigers put runners on the corners with none out thanks to a pair of hits and right fielder Jose Guillen's error. But Hernandez got Omar Infante to line out before striking out Brandon Inge and Curtis Granderson to end the threat.

Sean Green recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning and George Sherrill and Chris Reitsma combined to pitch a scoreless eighth before All-Star J.J. Putz worked around a double in the ninth to pick up his 25th save of the season. It was Putz's 27th consecutive save, tying him with Eddie Guardado for the club record.

Seattle has won 13 of its last 16 contests.

Making just his seventh career start, Miller gave up three runs- two earned - and six hits with two walks and six strikeouts in five innings.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland declined to analyze the controversial play that cost his team the game.

"I don't talk about that kind of stuff," he said. "They got the call. As far as that third run scoring, that's absolutely correct."

All-Star Magglio Ordonez accounted for the Tigers' first two runs with an RBI groundout in the first inning and a high chopper to third two frames later that went for an infield single and allowed Granderson to score, giving Detroit a 2-0 advantage.

Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez was ejected by plate umpire Mike Winters in the fourth inning after arguing that Seattle hitter Yuniesky Betancourt interfered with his throw to second on Beltre's stolen-base attempt. The throw went into center field, allowing Beltre to go to third, and Rodriguez was tossed after a heated argument with Winters during which he bumped the umpire.