Meche continues trend

SEATTLE – Gil Meche put together another strong outing for a Seattle starter, and Carl Everett hit his first homer with the Mariners in a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.

Everett’s two-run homer was part of a three-run second inning that was all the offense Meche needed. The right-hander pitched into the sixth, allowing two runs and four hits, as the Mariners won their third straight.

In the first four games, Seattle’s starters have a combined 3.55 ERA in 25 1/3 innings. Meche (1-0) struck out six and walked three.

Seattle’s bullpen allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 innings. J.J. Putz retired all four batters that he faced for his first save, striking out the side in the ninth.

Raul Ibanez doubled and tripled and scored twice for Seattle. Kenji Johjima, Yuniesky Betancourt and Ichiro Suzuki all had two hits as the Mariners finished with 13 hits, their third consecutive game in double figures.

Oakland starter Esteban Loaiza (0-1) struggled. In 4 2/3 innings, he allowed five runs on nine hits, four of those for extra bases.

Loaiza has a history of starting the season well. Of active pitchers with 20 or more decisions in April, Loaiza entered the day with the second-highest winning percentage (.783) behind only Pedro Martinez of the New York Mets.

Last year with Washington, Loaiza was 0-2 in April. His first season with Oakland didn’t start any better.

“Seattle acquired Class A pitcher Jose De La Cruz from Tampa Bay for Marcos Carvajal in a swap of right-handers.

De La Cruz, 22, was 3-6 with a 3.94 ERA and 19 saves for Class A Southwest Michigan in 2005. Seattle had designated Carvajal, 21, for assignment last week.