Mariners host Devil Rays in first of four games

Sep 13, 2007, 14:50 GMT

- The Seattle Mariners try to string back-to-back wins together this evening when they open a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Safeco Field.

The Mariners salvaged the finale of their three-game set with the Oakland Athletics and won for only the third time in 18 games on Wednesday, as Yuniesky Betancourt's run-scoring single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth lifted Seattle to a 6-5 win.

After Adam Jones evened the game in the eighth with a solo home run, Jose Guillen got on base in the ninth with a one-out single off Andrew Brown (2-2) and advanced to second when Ben Broussard hit a slow grounder to second. Brown intentionally walked Jose Vidro to face Betancourt, who ripped a clean single to center to win the game.

Betancourt and Raul Ibanez both drove in two runs for the Mariners, who remained 6 1/2 games behind New York in the AL wild card race.

Miguel Batista surrendered three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits in six innings en route to a no-decision. J.J. Putz (3-1) got the win with a perfect ninth.

Seattle will pin its hopes tonight on righty Jeff Weaver, who has lost his last two starts. Weaver was battered by the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, as he allowed seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in five innings to drop him to 6-12 on the year, while raising his ERA to 6.05.

Weaver is 4-8 lifetime against the Devil Rays with a 5.00 ERA in 17 games, 16 of which have been starts.

While Seattle won in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, Tampa Bay was handed a loss in similar fashion, as Al Reyes served up a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to David Ortiz, lifting Boston to a 5-4 win.

B.J. Upton homered for the Devil Rays, who have lost two straight after winning three in a row. Edwin Jackson scattered eight hits and three runs over six innings, fanning six and walking one.

Tampa Bay, which has still won 13 of its last 19, blew a 4-0 lead on Wednesday, one night after giving up an 8-1 cushion. A victory in either game would have moved the Devil Rays out of last place in the AL East while giving them their first series win at Fenway Park since 1999.

Getting the call for right-hander Jason Hammel, who is 2-4 with a 6.57 ERA. Hammel received a no-decision on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, as he gave up two runs and five hits in six innings of a 5-4 win.

Hammel has never faced the Mariners.

Seattle has won two of three from the Devil Rays this season and is 12-6 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. Tampa has also lost 10 of its last 12 in the Emerald City.

© 2007 The Sports Network