Mariners turn back Rangers in 13 innings
Jose Lopez singled with the bases loaded in the 13th inning, lifting the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night at Safeco Field in Seattle.
John Rheinecker (4-6) walked Raul Ibanez and Eduardo Perez to lead off the inning. Oswaldo Navarro, making his major league debut after being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma the previous day, sacrificed to move the runners to second and third. Kenji Johjima then walked on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases.
Lopez’s drive on a 2-1 pitch bounced into the Mariners bullpen with the Texas outfield drawn in to end the 4-hour, 16-minute game.
The Mariners won their fourth straight and handed the Rangers their third straight loss. Seattle trails third-place Texas by three games in the American League West.
Seattle, which is 4-8 against Texas this season, has won 12 of 17 games after an 11-game losing streak.
Right-hander Emiliano Fruto (1-1) allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings. He had one strikeout and no walks.
Gary Matthews homered on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the ninth off Seattle closer J.J. Putz, who had blown only five saves in 37 chances.
Richie Sexson’s towering shot off the right-center field wall off Texas reliever Joaquin Benoit with one out in the ninth just missed being his third game-ending homer of the season by 2 feet. Benoit intentionally walked Ben Broussard before getting the final two outs of the inning.
Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn allowed one run on six hits in six innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two.
Texas starter Robinson Tejeda allowed one earned run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander had seven strikeouts and two walks.
The Rangers went ahead 1-0 in the top of the sixth. Mark DeRosa’s double to the right-center field wall scored Carlos Lee, who had reached base on an infield single. DeRosa slid in just before the relay from second baseman Jose Lopez reached catcher Kenji Johjima.
Willie Bloomquist led off the bottom of the inning with a walk and Ichiro Suzuki’s slap over the shoulder of third baseman Mark DeRosa in shallow left field put runners at first and second with no outs.
Chris Snelling’s sacrifice bunt scored Bloomquist after Tejeda’s throw to first baseman Mark Teixera bounced in the dirt and skipped down the line. Ichiro scored when Betancourt grounded into a double play to make it 2-1.
Betancourt, 15 for 45 (.333 average), is the only Mariners player with a minimum of 25 plate appearances that is hitting better than .300 against Texas this season.
Clearing the bases
Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner will miss the rest of the season with a broken right hand. Hafner suffered the injury on Sept. 1 when Rangers right-hander C.J. Wilson hit him on the hand with a pitch in the eighth inning. … Pedro Martinez felt good after a four-inning simulated game and the New York Mets ace is on track to return to the rotation next week. … Oakland center fielder Mark Kotsay will return to the Bay Area to get treatment for his injured back and is not expected to play until Friday.