Mariners plate five in eighth to top D-Rays

Sep 14, 2007, 5:41 GMT

Seattle, WA - Adrian Beltre's run-scoring single put Seattle in front as the Mariners scored five runs in the eighth inning to come from behind and post an 8-7 victory over Tampa Bay at Safeco Field.

Yuniesky Betancourt knocked in three runs and Ichiro Suzuki had three hits and two RBI for the Mariners, who have won two straight and have only four wins in their last 19 games.

Seattle starter Jeff Weaver lasted just 1 1/3 innings after getting roughed up for five runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout. Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-0) picked up the victory in relief while J.J. Putz notched his 38th save.

Greg Norton hit a two-run homer and had three RBI for the Devil Rays, who have lost three straight.

Jason Hammel started for Tampa Bay and pitched six frames, allowing one run on five hits. The loss went to Dan Wheeler (0-4) after giving up three runs on five hits in an inning of work.

Trailing by four runs in the eighth, Seattle plated five runs in the inning to take the lead. Raul Ibanez and Jose Guillen walked to start the frame and Wheeler came into the game. Ben Broussard singled to greet Wheeler and load the bases and Jose Vidro grounded into a double play to score Ibanez. A single by Kenji Johjima brought Guillen in and Betancourt's two-base hit to left scored two to tie the game. Beltre then gave Seattle an 8-7 lead with a single.

Putz tossed a scoreless ninth to close out the victory for the Mariners, who trail the Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the AL wild card race.

Tampa Bay took an early lead in the first inning as B.J. Upton's two-out single plated Carlos Pena, who doubled down the right-field line prior to Upton's plate appearance.

The Devil Rays scored four runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead. With one out, Raul Casanova, Joel Guzman and Jorge Velandia hit consecutive singles to load the bases. Brendan Harris followed with a base hit to bring Casanova home and Weaver then forced home a pair of runs after walking Norton and Pena. Sean White then relieved the ineffective Weaver and walked Upton to force in another run.

Seattle got on the board in the fifth after Suzuki singled home Johjima, who hit a ground-rule double to start the frame.

Norton's two-out, two-run homer in the sixth provided Tampa Bay with a 7-1 lead.

A run-scoring ground-rule double by Betancourt and RBI single from Suzuki in the seventh pulled the Mariners within four runs.

Game Notes

Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford began serving his two-game suspension Thursday for actions that led to his ejection on September 3 against Baltimore at home by first-base umpire Paul Nauert. Crawford originally appealed his suspension, leading to his fine being reduced, but the number of games remaining the same...Seattle had 12 hits while Tampa Bay ended with 10.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.