GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: SEATTLE (53-39) at TORONTO (46-49)

AL: SEATTLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL AT TORONTO - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: M Stairs hit for R Clayton.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, A HILL ON FIRST, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 4
TORONTO 2 BOTTOM, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M Stairs (.282, 14 HR, 36 RBI)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
SEATTLE 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 0
TORONTO 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA, SEAN GREEN (6TH), CHRIS REITSMA (8TH), J.J.
PUTZ (9TH) AND KENJI JOHJIMA

TOR - JESSE LITSCH, BRIAN WOLFE (5TH), JASON FRASOR
(8TH), BRANDON LEAGUE (9TH) AND GREGG ZAUN

HOME RUNS: SEA - ADRIAN BELTRE (15) OFF JESSE LITSCH IN THE 4TH, 1 ON

TOR - NONE</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
SEATTLE 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 6 0
TORONTO 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA, SEAN GREEN (6TH), CHRIS REITSMA (8TH), J.J.
PUTZ (9TH) AND KENJI JOHJIMA

TOR - JESSE LITSCH, BRIAN WOLFE (5TH), JASON FRASOR
(8TH), BRANDON LEAGUE (9TH) AND GREGG ZAUN


WP - MIGUEL BATISTA (10-7)
LP - JESSE LITSCH (2-4)
SAVE - J.J. PUTZ (29)

HOME RUNS: SEA - ADRIAN BELTRE (15) OFF JESSE LITSCH IN THE 4TH, 1 ON

TOR - NONE


TIME: 2:45 ATT: 27,079

PROBABLES: SEA - JEFF WEAVER (2-7, 6.82)
TOR - JOSH TOWERS (4-6, 5.40)</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">SEATTLE (4) VS TORONTO (2) - FINAL

SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .352
J Vidro dh 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .297
R Ibanez lf 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 .264
J Ellison pr-lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
J Guillen rf 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 .285
A Beltre 3b 4 1 1 2 0 1 2 .274
R Sexson 1b 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 .203
K Johjima c 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .279
J Lopez 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 .269
Y Betancourt ss 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .282

Totals 30 4 6 4 4 4 7

BATTING: HR - A Beltre (15, 4th inning off J Litsch 1 on, 0 Out). S - J Vidro.
RBI - A Beltre 2 (49), R Ibanez (57), J Guillen (56). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - R Ibanez 1. GIDP - A Beltre, K Johjima. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Ellison (3, 2nd base by J Frasor/G Zaun).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-R Sexson, Y Betancourt-R Sexson).


TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Johnson lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .221
A Rios rf 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 .307
V Wells cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251
T Glaus 3b 4 0 2 1 0 1 1 .288
F Thomas dh 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 .252
L Overbay 1b 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .269
A Hill 2b 3 0 2 0 1 1 2 .278
G Zaun c 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .230
J McDonald ss 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .259
a-H Clark ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217
R Clayton ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
b-M Stairs ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .280

Totals 33 2 8 1 3 7 12

a-grounded to first for J Mcdonald in the 7th; b-flied out to left for R
Clayton in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - A Rios 2 (27, M Batista 2); A Hill (28, M Batista). RBI - T Glaus
(44). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Johnson 1, M Stairs 1, T
Glaus 1, J McDonald 1, A Hill 1. GIDP - G Zaun, V Wells. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - A Hill (8, ground ball). DP: 2 (J McDonald-A Hill-L Overbay, T
Glaus-A Hill-L Overbay).


----------------------------------------------------
SEATTLE - 000 220 000 -- 4
TORONTO - 010 001 000 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Batista (W, 10-7) 5 2/3 5 2 2 3 6 0 4.32
S Green (H, 6) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.61
C Reitsma (H, 5) 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 5.40
J Putz (S, 29) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.78

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
J Litsch (L, 2-4) 4 1/3 5 4 4 4 2 1 4.54
B Wolfe 2 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.35
J Frasor 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.23
B League 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5.40

Pitches-strikes: M Batista 96-55; S Green 17-10; C Reitsma 16-9; J Putz
13-10; J Litsch 80-45; B Wolfe 32-20; J Frasor 14-9; B League 13-8. Ground
balls-fly balls: M Batista 5-6; S Green 2-1; C Reitsma 2-1; J Putz 1-2; J
Litsch 7-4; B Wolfe 4-3; J Frasor 1-0; B League 3-0. Batters faced: M Batista
24; S Green 4; C Reitsma 4; J Putz 4; J Litsch 22; B Wolfe 7; J Frasor 3; B
League 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Tim Timmons. 2B--Chad Fairchild. 3B--Rick
Reed.
EJECTIONS: TORONTO's Gibbons by Timmons (6th).
T--2:45. Att--27,079.
Weather: 73 degrees, overcast. Wind: 11 mph, out to
center.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
SEATTLE 4
TORONTO 2 FINAL</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEATTLE (4) AT TORONTO (2) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TORONTO 2ND: F Thomas walked. L Overbay walked, F Thomas to second.
A Hill walked, F Thomas to third, L Overbay to second. G Zaun grounded into
double play, second to shortstop to first, F Thomas scored, A Hill out at
second, L Overbay to third. J McDonald struck out swinging. (1 Run, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TORONTO 1.

SEATTLE 4TH: J Guillen walked. A Beltre homered to center, J Guillen
scored. R Sexson grounded out to shortstop. K Johjima flied out to center.
J Lopez grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 2, TORONTO 1.

SEATTLE 5TH: Y Betancourt walked. I Suzuki walked, Y Betancourt to second.
J Vidro sacrificed to first, Y Betancourt to third, I Suzuki to second.
R Ibanez singled to right, Y Betancourt scored, I Suzuki to third. J Guillen
singled to left center, I Suzuki scored, R Ibanez to second. B Wolfe relieved
J Litsch. A Beltre grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
J Guillen out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 6TH: A Rios doubled to center. V Wells grounded out to third,
A Rios to third. T Glaus singled to center, A Rios scored. F Thomas struck out
swinging. L Overbay singled to right, T Glaus to second. S Green relieved
M Batista. Toronto's Manager J Gibbons ejected by T Timmons. A Hill struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at TORONTO

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEATTLE (4) AT TORONTO (2) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seattle Starting Lineups -- I Suzuki CF, J Vidro DH, R Ibanez LF, J Guillen RF,
A Beltre 3B, R Sexson 1B, K Johjima C, J Lopez 2B, Y Betancourt SS, M Batista RHP.

Toronto Starting Lineups -- R Johnson LF, A Rios RF, V Wells CF, T Glaus 3B,
F Thomas DH, L Overbay 1B, A Hill 2B, G Zaun C, J McDonald SS, J Litsch RHP.

Umpires -- Chuck Meriwether (HP), Tim Timmons (1B), Chad Fairchild (2B),
Rick Reed (3B).

Gametime Weather: 73 degrees, Overcast, wind out to center at 11 mph.


SEATTLE 1ST: I Suzuki grounded out to shortstop. J Vidro struck out
swinging. R Ibanez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0,
TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 1ST: R Johnson struck out looking. A Rios doubled to deep left.
V Wells grounded out to third, A Rios to third. T Glaus lined out to right.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TORONTO 0.

SEATTLE 2ND: J Guillen flied out to right. A Beltre struck out looking.
R Sexson reached on infield single to third. K Johjima flied out to left.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TORONTO 0.

TORONTO 2ND: F Thomas walked. L Overbay walked, F Thomas to second.
A Hill walked, F Thomas to third, L Overbay to second. G Zaun grounded into
double play, second to shortstop to first, F Thomas scored, A Hill out at
second, L Overbay to third. J McDonald struck out swinging. (1 Run, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TORONTO 1.

SEATTLE 3RD: J Lopez popped out to second. Y Betancourt grounded out to
pitcher. I Suzuki singled to left. J Vidro walked, I Suzuki to second.
R Ibanez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 3RD: R Johnson popped out to second. A Rios popped out to second.
V Wells flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 0, TORONTO 1.

SEATTLE 4TH: J Guillen walked. A Beltre homered to center, J Guillen
scored. R Sexson grounded out to shortstop. K Johjima flied out to center.
J Lopez grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 2, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 4TH: T Glaus struck out swinging. F Thomas flied out to left.
L Overbay lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 2, TORONTO 1.

SEATTLE 5TH: Y Betancourt walked. I Suzuki walked, Y Betancourt to second.
J Vidro sacrificed to first, Y Betancourt to third, I Suzuki to second.
R Ibanez singled to right, Y Betancourt scored, I Suzuki to third. J Guillen
singled to left center, I Suzuki scored, R Ibanez to second. B Wolfe relieved
J Litsch. A Beltre grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
J Guillen out at second.(2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 5TH: A Hill doubled to left. G Zaun grounded out to second, A Hill
to third. J McDonald struck out looking. R Johnson struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 1.

SEATTLE 6TH: R Sexson grounded out to shortstop. K Johjima flied out to
center. J Lopez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4,
TORONTO 1.

TORONTO 6TH: A Rios doubled to center. V Wells grounded out to third,
A Rios to third. T Glaus singled to center, A Rios scored. F Thomas struck out
swinging. L Overbay singled to right, T Glaus to second. S Green relieved
M Batista. Toronto's Manager J Gibbons ejected by T Timmons. A Hill struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2.

SEATTLE 7TH: Y Betancourt lined out to third. I Suzuki flied out to left.
J Vidro grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2.

TORONTO 7TH: G Zaun flied out to center. H Clark hit for J McDonald.
H Clark grounded out to first. R Johnson grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2.

SEATTLE 8TH: R Clayton at shortstop. J Frasor relieved B Wolfe. R Ibanez
safe at first on error by second baseman A Hill. J Ellison ran for R Ibanez.
J Ellison caught stealing second, catcher to second. J Guillen struck out
looking. A Beltre grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error)
SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2.

TORONTO 8TH: J Ellison in left field. C Reitsma relieved S Green. A Rios
singled to left center. V Wells grounded into double play, shortstop to first,
A Rios out at second. T Glaus singled to center. F Thomas fouled out to first.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2.

SEATTLE 9TH: B League relieved J Frasor. R Sexson singled to left.
K Johjima grounded into double play, third to second to first, R Sexson out at
second. J Lopez grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4,
TORONTO 2.

TORONTO 9TH: J Putz relieved C Reitsma. L Overbay grounded out to
shortstop. A Hill singled to left center. G Zaun flied out to center.
M Stairs hit for R Clayton. A Hill to second on fielder's indifference. M Stairs
flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2.</div>

 

Batista, Beltre help Mariners hold off Blue Jays

<h3>SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2</h3>TORONTO (Ticker) -- After a rough beginning, Miguel Batista andthe Seattle Mariners settled down.


Batista pitched 5 2/3 effective innings and Adrian Beltre belteda two-run homer as the Mariners posted a 4-2 victory over theToronto Blue Jays on Friday.


Batista (10-7) allowed two runs, five hits and three walks enroute to his third win in four starts. The righthander hasyielded three earned runs or less in seven straight outings.

The game did not start off the way Batista wanted, however.After working around a one-out double by All-Star Alex Rios inthe first inning, he ran into more trouble in the second.

The 36-year-old walked the first three batters, each on fourpitches. But Batista minimized the damage by getting Gregg Zaunto ground into a double play that scored Frank Thomas andstriking out John McDonald.


Aftere allowing two hits - including an RBI single by Troy Glaus- in the sixth, Batista was relieved by Sean Green, who retiredall four batters he faced before Chris Reitsma worked aroundtwo hits in a scoreless eighth.


Closer J.J. Putz yielded a one-out hit by Richie Sexson in theninth but was able to nail down his 29th save in as manyopportunities.


It took Beltre and the Mariners until the fourth inning to takethe lead.


After Jose Guillen walked on four pitches, Beltre hammered a 1-1offering from rookie Jesse Litsch off the window of therestaurant above the left-center field wall. It was Beltre's16th homer, which gave Seattle a 2-1 lead.


In the fifth, Yuniesky Betancourt and Ichiro Suzuki led off withconsecutive walks before each advanced on a sacrifice. RaulIbanez and Guillen followed with run-scoring singles to make it4-1.


That was it for Litsch (2-4), who allowed four runs, five hitsand a season-high four walks in 4 1/3 innings. It was the firstsub-par performance in three starts by the 22-year-old, who wasrecalled from the minors earlier this month.


In his prior two outings, Litsch had surrendered a total of justthree runs in 13 2/3 innings.


Glaus had two hits for the Blue Jays, who have lost four offive.

 

Batista, Beltre help Mariners hold off Blue Jays

<h3>SEATTLE 4, TORONTO 2</h3>TORONTO (Ticker) -- After a rough beginning, Miguel Batista andthe Seattle Mariners settled down.


Batista pitched 5 2/3 effective innings and Adrian Beltre belteda two-run homer as the Mariners posted a 4-2 victory over theToronto Blue Jays on Friday.


Batista (10-7) allowed two runs, five hits and three walks enroute to his third win in four starts. The righthander hasyielded three earned runs or less in seven straight outings.

The game did not start off the way Batista wanted, however.After working around a one-out double by All-Star Alex Rios inthe first inning, he ran into more trouble in the second.

The 36-year-old walked the first three batters, each on fourpitches. But Batista minimized the damage by getting Gregg Zaunto ground into a double play that scored Frank Thomas andstriking out John McDonald.


"I wasn't even close to the plate on the first four pitches (ofthe inning)," Batista said. "I knew something was wrong, but Ididn't know what it was. When the wind changes in thisballpark, you can get crazy movement, but I was able to get outof it with only the one run allowed."


"Miguel hit a little bump in the road there," Mariners managerJohn McLaren said. "He got his game back together, pitched hisway out of a jam and got a big double play."


After allowing two hits - including an RBI single by Troy Glaus- in the sixth, Batista was relieved by Sean Green, who retiredall four batters he faced before Chris Reitsma worked around twohits in a scoreless eighth.


Closer J.J. Putz yielded a one-out hit by Richie Sexson in theninth, but was able to nail down his 29th save in as manyopportunities.


"I can't say enough good things about our bullpen the waythey've pitched this year," McLaren said. "They've definitelybeen outstanding and they've been a big part of our success."

Toronto manager John Gibbons agreed.


"Their bullpen is as good as any out there," said Gibbons, whowas ejected by first base umpire Tim Timmons in the sixthinning. "They can shorten the game on you in a hurry and that'swhy Seattle is such a good club."


It took Beltre and the Mariners until the fourth inning to takethe lead.


After Jose Guillen walked on four pitches, Beltre hammered a 1-1offering from rookie Jesse Litsch off the window of therestaurant above the left-center field wall. It was Beltre's16th homer, which gave Seattle a 2-1 lead.


"(Litsch) threw me a cutter over the plate and I was able tomake good contact," Beltre said. "He's a guy I've never facedbefore, but after you see one or two at-bats you have an idea ofwhat he has."


In the fifth, Yuniesky Betancourt and Ichiro Suzuki led off withconsecutive walks before each advanced on a sacrifice. RaulIbanez and Guillen followed with run-scoring singles to make it4-1.


That was it for Litsch (2-4), who allowed four runs, five hitsand a season-high four walks in 4 1/3 innings. It was the firstsub-par performance in three starts by the 22-year-old, who wasrecalled from the minors earlier this month.


"I just couldn't find those corners like I usually can," Litschsaid. "I was rushing my pitches a lot. I was throwing it waydown and in to lefties and away on righties."


In his prior two outings, Litsch had surrendered a total of justthree runs in 13 2/3 innings.


Glaus had two hits for the Blue Jays, who have lost four offive.