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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Congratulations on your outstanding debut, Joel
Pineiro. Now clear out your locker.
Pineiro, brought up from Triple-A ball for a spot start, pitched
like he's been in the majors all summer, and Alex Rodriguez homered
in both games Tuesday night as the Seattle Mariners swept the
Chicago White Sox 12-4, 7-5.
|  | | Jay Buhner drove in Edgar Martinez, left, and Alex Rodriguez on his first-inning grand slam in Game 1. Martinez added another slam in the eighth. |
"He showed remarkable poise," Seattle manager Lou Piniella
said. "We're going to send him out. That's his reward for pitching
a great ballgame for us."
Pineiro gave up two runs and scattered five hits over six-plus
innings, and he got all the run support he needed on grand slams by
Jay Buhner and Edgar Martinez. Rodriguez homered off reliever Kevin
Beirne and drove in two more runs for the Mariners.
In the second game, Rodriguez hit the longest homer at Comiskey
Park so far this year, and former White Sox Mike Cameron hit a
two-run double in the five-run fifth inning and homered.
The White Sox threatened in the ninth, putting runners at first
and third, but Cameron and John Olerud made spectacular catches and
Kazuhiro Sasaki struck out Herbert Perry to end the game. It was
Sasaki's 27th save in 30 chances.
The Mariners have won five straight, moving them 21 games above
.500 (67-46) for the first time in franchise history. The losses
cut Chicago's lead over second-place Cleveland in the AL Central to
eight games.
"That's the nice thing to beat everybody's expectations,"
Olerud said. "To surprise people."
Though it was impressive, Pineiro's debut wasn't a total
surprise. He dazzled his teammates in spring training, and is 7-0
with a 2.41 ERA in nine games at Triple-A Tacoma.
Pineiro said he was nervous before the game, but he sure didn't
look it as he held the highest-scoring team in the majors in check
for six-plus innings.
"A great experience. An awesome experience," Pineiro said.
"I'm still in la-la land right now."
He allowed only two extra-base hits, one of which was a solo
homer to Charles Johnson in the fifth inning. That brought a visit
from pitching coach Bryan Price, but Pineiro retired the next six
batters he faced, striking out two of them.
He struck out four and walked only two. There was a smattering
of applause as he left the field.
Pineiro wasn't disappointed to hear he was going back to
Triple-A. With the starting rotation the Mariners have, he knows he
has to wait his turn.
"They gave me a chance and I gave the team a chance to win,"
he said. "Now I've just got to keep doing my job."
Johnson added a sacrifice fly in the seventh and a solo homer in
the ninth off Brett Tomko. It is his third multihomer game of the
season and the seventh of his career.
Tomko, who also allowed a solo homer to Magglio Ordonez in the
eighth, pitched three innings for his first career save.
"For me, on a personal level, it was a big game," Johnson
said. "But it doesn't really mean a whole lot when you lose."
Chicago's rookie pitcher wasn't as fortunate as Pineiro. Jon
Garland (2-4) gave up six runs and eight hits in just 3 2/3
innings. He also walked three and struck out two.
Garland got in trouble early, issuing three straight walks in
the first inning to load the bases. He then gave up the grand slam
to Buhner on a full count. It was the 22nd homer of the year for
Buhner and his second grand slam. He now has 10 career slams.
"Fastball, belt-high," Garland said when asked what he threw
Buhner. "Everything a hitter was asking for."
Beirne, who replaced Garland, gave up an RBI single to Carlos
Guillen in the eighth and then walked Rodriguez to load the bases.
He was relieved by Bill Simas, who promptly served up a grand slam
on the first pitch to Martinez.
It was Martinez's third grand slam of the season.
In the second game, Rodriguez sparked the Mariners with a solo
homer in the fourth inning that traveled 458 feet, the longest of
the year. Seattle then broke out for a big fifth inning.
Lorenzo Barcelo, making his first start in the majors, loaded
the bases by walking Rickey Henderson. Barcelo was relieved by Mark
Buehrle (1-1), but Cameron hit the first pitch down the left-field
line for a two-run double.
Henderson scored on a fielder's choice and Cameron scored on an
error to put the Mariners ahead 6-5. Cameron added a solo homer in
the ninth.
"Long day," Piniella said. "But it was worth it, I can tell
you that."
Game notes
Henderson was caught stealing twice in the second game. ...
White Sox CF Jeff Abbott was ejected in seventh inning of the first
game for arguing with first base umpire Derryl Cousins after being
called out at first. ... Seattle's Al Martin matched his career
high with four hits in the first game. ... The Mariners acquired C
Chris Widger from the Montreal Expos before the first game in a
waiver trade for two players to be named. ... White Sox RHP Cal
Eldred, on the DL since July 17 with nerve irritation in his elbow,
threw long toss from 60 and 90 feet without any problems. He'll
rest Wednesday and throw again Thursday.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Chi. White Sox Clubhouse
RECAPS
Seattle 12
Chi. White Sox 4
Seattle 7
Chi. White Sox 5
(2nd game)
Texas 11
Cleveland 2
Detroit 4
Baltimore 1
NY Yankees 4
Oakland 3
Tampa Bay 5
Minnesota 0
Toronto 6
Kansas City 1
Anaheim 2
Boston 1
Atlanta 5
Cincinnati 4
Philadelphia 10
San Diego 4
Houston 9
NY Mets 3
Florida 7
St. Louis 0
Colorado 6
Pittsburgh 1
Montreal 9
Arizona 3
Los Angeles 7
Chicago Cubs 5
San Francisco 1
Milwaukee 0
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