Mariners continue set with Devil Rays

Sep 15, 2007, 14:53 GMT

- The Seattle Mariners try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive this evening when they continue a four-game series with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Safeco Field.

Seattle won in dramatic fashion in the second game of this set on Friday, as Jose Guillen's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Mariners to a 2-1 win.

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.

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.

Seattle will pin its hopes tonight on lefty Horacio Ramirez, who has lost his last two starts and is winless in his last four outings. Ramirez was tagged with the loss on Friday against the Oakland Athletics, as he was hammered for five runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings to fall to 8-6 on the season, while raising his ERA to 6.80.

Ramirez has faced the Devil Rays just twice in his career and is 1-0 against them with a 5.19 ERA.

Tampa will counter with its ace, 23-year-old lefty Scott Kazmir, who is 12-8 on the season with a 3.65 ERA. Kazmir won his third straight decision on Monday against the Boston Red Sox, as he scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings to improve to 5-1 over his last nine starts.

Kazmir is 2-0 lifetime against the Mariners with a sparkling 1.93 ERA in four starts.

Seattle has won four of six from the Devil Rays this season and is 14-6 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign. Tampa has also lost 12 of its last 14 in the Emerald City.

© 2007 The Sports Network