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Lopez, Ibanez help Mariners edge Twins

Aug 6, 2008 - 6:52 AM By Paul Lowenberg PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Jose Lopez's two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning lifted the Seattle Mariners to an 8-7 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer and singled in two more runs to give him 11 RBI over the first two games of the series for the Mariners.

The loss dropped the Twins one game behind the Chicago White Sox in their battle for first place in the American League Central.

Lopez's big hit helped Seattle erase the memory of squandering a three-run lead and post its third consecutive victory.

His game-winning blow came off one of the toughest closers in baseball, Joe Nathan, who was after his 31st save, but instead charged with his third blown save.

"It was a good at-bat," Nathan said. "The guy (Lopez) is swinging the bat pretty well. With a 3-2 count, I came with a slider and threw it basically where I wanted to. I threw it for a strike and he was able to put enough on it to find a spot out there."

Matt Guerrier (6-5), the fifth Twins reliever, took the loss.

"We're in there battling for wins and losses," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "All I ask is that everyone is on that top step at the end of the game. Both teams are playing hard and we're playing great games right now."

Jason Kubel hit his second home run of the night and pinch hitter Mike Lamb lined a two-out, two-run double to highlight a four-run eighth that gave the Twins a 7-6 lead.

Trailing, 6-3, the Twins used a one-out double by Justin Morneau and Kubel's blast to cut the gap to 6-5. After singles by Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris, J.J. Putz (4-4) entered and Lamb greeted him with his double to center field to give the Twins the lead.

It was the third consecutive blown save for Putz, who pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory.

"He was pretty good," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "He mentioned to me that he didn't have command of his four-seam fastball and that's the ball that Lamb hit. His bread-and-butter pitch, his split-finger, was outstanding."

Ibanez has driven in 14 runs in his last three games, tying a club record first accomplished by Ken Griffey Jr. from April 28-30, 1999.

"I feel blessed," Ibanez said of his offensive explosion. "It's working out and I'll just keep trying to do what I can to help out. Most importantly, we've been playing well together and not giving in."

Minnesota starter Scott Baker was tagged for six runs on nine hits and a pair of walks in the 5 1/3 innings.

Seattle, which scored 10 runs in the seventh inning in Monday's 11-6 victory, had another big inning, scoring four runs in the third to go ahead 4-2.

Ibanez, who drove in six runs in the seventh on Monday, delivered his second home run in as many days - a three-run shot into the right-field seats. It was Ibanez' 17th blast of the year and 63rd of his career at Safeco Field, more than any other player.

Kubel hit his first blast of the night in the sixth and trimmed the Mariners' lead to 4-3.

Ichiro Suzuki had an infield single to lead off the third to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

"The guys are into it. They're doing everything they can to win a ballgame and agonizing over failures to win a game," Riggleman said. "It's a great atmosphere for these guys to be in."