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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
CHICAGO (AP) -- Rookie Rocky Biddle had no problem with the heart
of Seattle's lineup. He quickly learned that in the big leagues, he
has to get the bottom of the order out, too.
|  | | Seattle's Joe Oliver connected for his seventh homer of the season on Thursday. |
Joe Oliver and Mike Cameron hit two-run homers to back Aaron
Sele, who reached 13 wins for the fourth straight season, and the
Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 Thursday.
"If it was just three guys on this team (doing everything), we
wouldn't have 68 wins," Cameron said. "Other guys are coming
through."
Cameron was 3-for-4 to help spoil the first major league
appearance of Biddle (0-1), called up from Double-A Birmingham. The
fifth rookie pitcher to start for the White Sox this season and
third in four games, Biddle sported long sideburns for his debut.
The Mariners' 7-8-9 hitters were a combined 7-for-7 against
Biddle with two homers, six RBI and seven runs scored.
"Maybe I was more focused on the top of the lineup," said
Biddle, who allowed six runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. "I
didn't keep my focus, and there's no room for that up here, and I
found that out today."
"The bottom of the lineup really produced," Seattle manager
Lou Piniella said. "It's good to see a total team contribution."
Sele (13-6) gave up three runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings,
struck out five and walked nine. He left his previous start in the
sixth when he was hit by a liner.
Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 31
chances. Seattle (68-47) has won six of seven and is 21 games over
.500 for only the second time ever.
Frank Thomas homered for the third straight game, leaving him
tied with Toronto's Tony Batista for the AL lead at 34. Thomas, who
also had an RBI single in the eighth, has 101 RBI.
Chicago, 13-14 since the All-Star break, has seen its AL Central
lead drop to 7½ games, its smallest since June 27. The White Sox
keep sending out young pitchers.
"That's what we've got. We have no choice," White Sox third
baseman Herbert Perry said. "With Jim (Parque), Mike (Sirotka) and
J.B. (James Baldwin), we'll be OK. The kid (Biddle) had good stuff.
I'm not worried. We've just got to start to play our game and if we
don't, we don't deserve to be in the playoffs."
"I wouldn't be afraid to go with him for a length of time,"
White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said of Biddle. "This guy today was
really impressive. He had a warrior mentality. I'll take my chances
with it."
Chicago had a chance to rally in the eighth. With two outs and
two on, Manuel stuck with left-handed Harold Baines against
left-hander Arthur Rhodes, struck out Baines on a 3-2 pitch.
"I know Harold like the back of a book," Rhodes said. "I've
seen him play, I've seen him hit. My theory was to throw all
fastballs and keep them down and away."
"I'd do the same thing again," Manuel said of Baines, 5-for-23
(.217) against left-handers.
Cameron singled with two outs in the second and Oliver followed
with his seventh homer.
With two outs in the fourth, Cameron and Oliver both singled and
Carlos Guillen tripled them home for a 4-0 lead.
After Thomas' homer, Cameron hit his 15th home run, making it
6-1 and chasing Biddle.
Mark Johnson singled with one out in the eighth, reached third
on Durham's double and scored on Jose Valentin's groundout. Thomas
then singled to make it 6-3 and chase Sele.
Game
notes
Biddle was 11-6 with a 2.94 ERA in 22 starts at Birmingham.
He arrived in Chicago around 1:30 a.m. CDT Thursday after a flight
delay in Atlanta. ... Thomas has homered in three straight games
three times this year, and homered in five of his last six games.
... Seattle has scored six or more runs in seven of its last eight
games. ... Piniella, apparently miffed that the White Sox gave him
a lineup minus a starting pitcher, did not give the White Sox his
batting order until lineup cards were exchanged at home plate.
However, Manuel said he told bench coach John McLaren on Wednesday
about Biddle. ... Sasaki gave up a hit to Carlos Lee with one out
in the ninth -- the first hit by a right-handed batter in 30 at-bats
against him.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Chi. White Sox Clubhouse
RECAPS
NY Yankees 12
Oakland 6
Tampa Bay 10
Minnesota 4
Detroit 14
Baltimore 3
Seattle 6
Chi. White Sox 3
Toronto 15
Kansas City 7
St. Louis 5
Colorado 4
NY Mets 10
Houston 3
San Diego 15
Philadelphia 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mike Cameron is feeling good about the last two series. (Courtesy: WLS)
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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