Guillen's sac fly lifts Mariners over D-Rays

Sep 15, 2007, 5:07 GMT

Seattle, WA - Jose Guillen's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth sent Seattle over Tampa Bay, 2-1, in the second of four between the teams at Safeco Field.

With Gary Glover (5-5) on the hill, Ichiro Suzuki began the ninth with a single, and took third when Adrian Beltre punched a base hit through the right side. Raul Ibanez dribbled a ball to third which loaded the bases. Guillen worked a 3-2 count then lifted a fly ball to right deep enough to score Suzuki with the winning run.

'That was a must win game with the Yankees coming back like that,' said Mariners manager John McLaren. 'The guys are playing good. We're competing well and we feel good about ourselves. We just want to finish strong.'

J.J. Putz (4-1) struck out two in one inning of scoreless relief to pick up the win. Starter Felix Hernandez allowed just six hits and one run over 7 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts in the no-decision.

Jose Vidro had a pair of hits and scored a run for the Mariners, who have won three straight and remained within 5 1/2 games of New York in the AL wild card race.

Jorge Velandia was 2-for-3 and knocked in the lone run for the D-Rays, who have dropped four in a row. James Shields scattered four hits and one run, fanning five and walking two over eight innings in the start.

'Shields pitched a great game,' said Rays manager Joe Maddon. 'That was a classic matchup, and they won the bullpen battle tonight. It's unfortunate, but it was well-pitched. And I think Shields, from our perspective, was the man of the night.'

Seattle broke a scoreless tie in the fifth. Vidro laced a leadoff double and Kenji Johjima followed by reaching on a bunt single. Willie Bloomquist grounded into a double-play but Vidro scored.

Tampa tied the game in the eighth. Jonny Gomes singled and three batters later Velandia drove him in with a double. Hernandez was lifted for George Sherrill, who fanned Akinori Iwamura with a runner on second to end the frame and keep the score tied.

Game Notes

The Mariners improved to 33-35 under McLaren...Seattle has won each of its last three games in its last at-bat...Attendance was 30,164.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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