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Weaver goes the distance as Mariners blank White Sox

Aug 12, 2007 - 9:54 PM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Jeff Weaver picked up his seventh career shutout as the Seattle Mariners rolled to a 6-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre and Jose Guillen all homered for the Mariners (65-50), who have won four of their last five games and 10 of 14 following a seven-game losing streak.

With the win, Seattle remains on pace with the New York Yankees (66-51) atop the American League wild card standings.

"It was an excellent road trip," Mariners manager John McLaren said. "It's not the same person every night - the bottom of the order, the middle of the order - whatever it takes."

Weaver (4-10) yielded five hits with eight strikeouts to record his second shutout this season. On June 20, the 6-5 righthander blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates at Safeco Field, giving up four hits.

"I've been gaining some momentum, having some good starts and just trying to build off that," Weaver said. "When your offense comes out and puts up runs early, it takes some pressure off you where you can go and pound the strike zone. I was able to throw my off-speed effectively to keep them off-balance."

"(Weaver) was hitting his spots," Chicago outfielder Jermaine Dye said. "He was throwing sliders for strikes, getting ground balls. He did what he's capable of doing, and what we've known him to be. His record may not show what he's capable of doing, but we tip our hats to him."

It was the 30-year-old's first win against the White Sox since tossing seven solid innings on September 6, 2001. Weaver has won back-to-backs starts following a four-game slide.

Sexson delivered his 18th blast to right in the second inning against Chicago starter John Danks (6-10), and an inning later Beltre added a two-run shot - his 18th - for a 5-0 cushion.

Guillen completed Seattle's home run celebration with his 16th in the fifth to chase Danks. Guillen had an RBI double in the first to open the scoring.

"I've been driving the ball, and that's what important," Sexson said. "We played really well, it's been a great trip. This is a great place to play, I love it."

After posting seven extra-base hits and 11 RBI over the last five games, including five home runs in the past five days, Seattle designated hitter Raul Ibanez struck out four times Sunday.

Danks, who is winless through his last five starts, was tagged for a season high-tying six runs and eight hits over just 4 1/3 innings.

"It was one of those days," Danks said. "I got hit around, didn't have any command. Against a good lineup, stuff like this will happen."

White Sox All-Star closer Bobby Jenks set an American League record with 41 straight batters retired in the ninth inning and tied the major league mark established by San Francisco's Jim Barr in 1972.

"To do that is pretty amazing," White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. "For (Jenks) to go almost 14 innings and not walk a guy, not hit a guy, not have a guy make an error or a wild pitch, it's pretty amazing.

"His ball has had the life on it that it's had the last couple of years, and anytime that you've got that and the velocity that Bobby's been able to throw, it makes it tough on hitters."