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Sunday, Sep. 10 4:35pm ET
Sele strikes out season-high 10 in win | |||||
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GAME LOG
SEATTLE (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners made sure Aaron Sele's best stuff didn't go to waste. Sele struck out a season-high 10 batters and Rodriguez hit a disputed home run to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 Sunday. Sele (14-10) improved to 13-3 in his career against the Twins, the most wins he has against any team. Sele, who has a 2.97 ERA against Minnesota, allowed one run and six hits in seven innings to snap a four-game losing streak. "My job is to go out and keep the team close, and when the guys go up there to the plate comfortable and relaxed, they can put some runs up on the board," Sele said. "With Alex, that was a big swing to put that three-run homer up there." The Mariners, who have won two straight after losing 18 of 25, remained two games in front of Oakland in the AL West. "It's important for our veteran pitchers to win this time of year," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "And certainly (Jamie) Moyer and Sele are the most experienced pitchers on our staff. If they pitch like that, then that bodes well for us the last 19 games." Rodriguez and Jay Buhner each hit three-run homers off J.C. Romero (2-6) in the third inning to lead Seattle's offense. Rickey Henderson walked and Mike Cameron singled with two outs in the third. After a wild pitch, Rodriguez drove a ball over the right-field fence for his 36th homer of the season. Rodriguez hit .444 (20-for-45) with five homers and 19 RBI in 12 games against Minnesota this season. He has eight RBI in his last eight plate appearances. Twins manager Tom Kelly came on the field to argue that there was fan interference when right fielder Brian Buchanan jumped for the ball, but first-base umpire Dan Morrison ruled in favor of the Mariners. "The umpire said it was over the fence, but I couldn't tell," Kelly said. "All we saw was the fan come down through the fencing they have over the railing and get out in between there. The umpire said the ball was still over the fence." Kelly said Sele's superior pitching was the difference in the game, not the Rodriguez home run. "We lost the game because Sele pitched terrific and we didn't pitch very well," he said. After walks to Edgar Martinez and John Olerud, Buhner made it 6-0 with his 24th homer. "The walks have been important to our offense this season, no question about it," Piniella said after his team drew six free passes. "When you get people on base like that, it's easier to score runs. "When we have big innings, you see us being more patient at the plate." Henderson added a two-run single in the sixth for Seattle, which scored all eight of its runs with two outs. Twins rookie A.J. Pierzynski went 3-for-3 and improved to 13-for-26 (.500) in his last 11 games. Game notesFor the first time since Safeco Field opened July 15, 1999, the retractable roof was closed for three consecutive games because of rain or the threat of rain. The roof was shut Sunday for the 12th time in 71 Mariners home games this season. ... The Twins acquired OF Lew Ford from Boston in a trade for RHP Hector Carrasco. ... Carrasco had not allowed an earned run in 15 of his last 20 appearances (24 1/3 innings), but he surrendered three runs on two hits and two walks in just 1 1/3 innings in Saturday's loss. ... When Buhner walked in the second inning, Seattle set a club record with 671 walks, eclipsing the mark set in 1996. ... Seattle have scored six or more runs in an inning nine times this season. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Minnesota Clubhouse Seattle Clubhouse RECAPS NY Yankees 6 Boston 2
Seattle 8
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