Saunders hits pair of 2-run homers in 5-3 win
SEATTLE (AP) - Michael Saunders hit a pair of two-run home runs to help Seattle beat the Cleveland Indians 5-3 on Monday night for the Mariners' sixth straight victory.
Saunders also hit a two-run homer on Sunday and now has a career high 13 homers.
Eric Thames also had a solo shot for the Mariners in the sixth as well as a triple in the eighth.
The Mariners have won 13 of their last 14 games at Safeco Field. It's the best home stretch over 14 games in club history. They are 23-13 since the All-Star Break.
The Indians have lost six in a row.
Charlie Furbush (5-2) earned the victory in relief of starter Kevin Millwood.
Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth and had trouble closing. Casey Kotchman singled with one out and Ezequiel Carrera doubled to right, with Kotchman taking third. Pinch hitter Jack Hannahan loaded the bases with a walk.
Jason Kipnis, who had a pair of RBI, then grounded into a double play. Wilhelmsen picked up his 18th save in 20 opportunities.
Joe Smith (7-4) took the loss in relief of starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
Kipnis started the game for the Indians with a shot off the right field foul pole. It was his 12th home run and first career leadoff homer.
After Saunders' third-inning, two-run home run to center put the Mariners up 2-1, the Indians jumped back ahead with a two-run fifth.
Kotchman walked with one out then Carrera beat out a right-side bunt. With one out, Kipnis singled to left, scoring Kotchman from second. Asdrubal Cabrera then singled to center, scoring Carrera from second for a 3-2 lead.
Thames tied it in the sixth with his two-out, 425-foot blast into the right-center seats. It was his fifth.
This was Saunders' third career two-home-run game.
Notes: Felix Hernandez, who threw the 23rd perfect game in Major League history last Wednesday, was named the American League Player of the Week. He is the first Mariners pitcher to win the award since Joel Pineiro on May 7, 2006. Hernandez starts Tuesday night against Cleveland. ... Mariners Trayvon Robinson had 10 outfield putouts, most in club history for a left-fielder. ... The Indians staff has given up 59 unearned runs this season, second most in the majors. Of those, 21 have come over the past 14 games.
Saunders also hit a two-run homer on Sunday and now has a career high 13 homers.
Eric Thames also had a solo shot for the Mariners in the sixth as well as a triple in the eighth.
The Mariners have won 13 of their last 14 games at Safeco Field. It's the best home stretch over 14 games in club history. They are 23-13 since the All-Star Break.
The Indians have lost six in a row.
Charlie Furbush (5-2) earned the victory in relief of starter Kevin Millwood.
Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth and had trouble closing. Casey Kotchman singled with one out and Ezequiel Carrera doubled to right, with Kotchman taking third. Pinch hitter Jack Hannahan loaded the bases with a walk.
Jason Kipnis, who had a pair of RBI, then grounded into a double play. Wilhelmsen picked up his 18th save in 20 opportunities.
Joe Smith (7-4) took the loss in relief of starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
Kipnis started the game for the Indians with a shot off the right field foul pole. It was his 12th home run and first career leadoff homer.
After Saunders' third-inning, two-run home run to center put the Mariners up 2-1, the Indians jumped back ahead with a two-run fifth.
Kotchman walked with one out then Carrera beat out a right-side bunt. With one out, Kipnis singled to left, scoring Kotchman from second. Asdrubal Cabrera then singled to center, scoring Carrera from second for a 3-2 lead.
Thames tied it in the sixth with his two-out, 425-foot blast into the right-center seats. It was his fifth.
This was Saunders' third career two-home-run game.
Notes: Felix Hernandez, who threw the 23rd perfect game in Major League history last Wednesday, was named the American League Player of the Week. He is the first Mariners pitcher to win the award since Joel Pineiro on May 7, 2006. Hernandez starts Tuesday night against Cleveland. ... Mariners Trayvon Robinson had 10 outfield putouts, most in club history for a left-fielder. ... The Indians staff has given up 59 unearned runs this season, second most in the majors. Of those, 21 have come over the past 14 games.
Wow Saunders has been hot.
I think they can!
I think they can!
The Mariners seemed to be a long shot at making the playoffs at the All Star Break. I think right now, they have a fairly decent shot at making the playoffs. Of course they will need a lot of help but with Felix on the mound tonight, we have a very good chance of winning 7 in a row. If we can get to .500 by the middle of next week, I think we should start looking at the playoffs a bit more intensely. The young guys are stepping up and they look excited to play which is fun to watch. If the M's did make the playoffs, we will shock the nation! Go M's!
Seems like the Ichiro trade has worked out well for both parties lately. He's supposedly been hitting over 300 since the move and, well, the Mariners are "Woo Hoo, Look at Me"! Dare we even think the word "playoffs"?
 @IowaBoy1964 Last I heard he's hitting .372 since the trade.
I was at the first game he played as a Yankee, and (no joke) I turned to the person sitting next to me and said, "Watch, he'll go to New York and hit .350". I had a feeling it would work out well for both parties, and his departure was probably the classiest there has ever been in professional sports.
My biggest beef with this team is lack of a consistent offense. I have looked at their schedule & out of their 64 losses, they are currently 12-12 in games that have been decided by 5 runs or more (source: www.baseball-reference.com). This indicates that pitching isn't the problem with this team, but it's their offense that needs help. Had they won at least half of the remaining 52, they'd be in the driver's seat in the AL West.
Hopefully, Jack Z will be addressing their lack of offense next season.
 @BallardCitizen93 My biggest beef is and always will be the two clowns at the top. Until Chuck and Howard are gone, there won't be a consistent quality product on the field.
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As far as the inconsistent offense goes, they're the second youngest team in baseball and they've shown improvement.
For some reason I can't reply to other people's comments when I click reply...probably because of my browser settings. Anyway, it's really great to see this team coming together & finding ways to win games.
Why can't they do this at home? Makes me think that Safeco being a "pitchers park" is hurting the team.
 @lgconservative "The Mariners have won 13 of their last 14 games at Safeco Field"
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Maybe you should start by actually reading the story! Â Then look up where they are playing.
 @lgconservative This was at home..
Sweet
On this date in 1995, the Mariners were 11.5 games back in the wildcard. After tonight's game, they're 7.5 games back. I know it's still a long shot, but they're getting exciting to watch!Â