Ramirez, continues to impress at home, Mariners edge Athletics <h3>SEATTLE 4, OAKLAND 3</h3>SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Horacio Ramirez continues to feel right athome. Ramirez pitched six effective innings and Yuniesky Betancourthit a key homer as the Seattle Mariners posted a 4-3 victoryover the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. Kenji Johjima hit a two-run homer and Ben Broussard also drovein a run for Seattle, which has won two straight following aseven-game losing streak. Ramirez (6-3) remains perfect at home, going 6-for-6 invictories at Safeco Field. It's the complete opposite of hisroad record where he is 0-3 with a 13.72 ERA in five outingsaway from home. Against Oakland, the lefthander allowed three runs, six hits andfive walks to win four of his last five decisions. After Ramirez left the game the Mariners bullpen took over.Chris Reitsma, Sean Green, George Sherrill and rookie Mark Loweall combined to hold Oakland to one hit over the next 1 2/3innings before All-Star closer J.J. Putz entered the game withtwo on and two out in the eighth. Putz, who leads the American League in saves, struck out pinchhitter Jack Cust to end the threat. In the ninth, the 6-5,250-pound stopper worked around a two-out walk to Nick Swisherto earn his 30th save in 31 chances. He had just blown hisfirst save opportunity of the season on Wednesday vs. the TexasRangers. With the game knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth,Betancourt hit a 1-0 pitch from A's starter Chad Gaudin over thecenter field fence to give Seattle the lead. The 27-year-old Ramirez was tagged for his three runs in thesecond inning before settling down. In the top of the frame, Mike Piazza singled and one out latermoved to second on a walk to Dan Johnson. After Marco Scutarohit a base hit up the middle to load the bases, Donnie Murphybelted a double to the center field wall, clearing the bases togive Oakland a 3-0 lead. However, the Mariners responded a half-inning later. After Adrian Beltre hit a leadoff double and moved to third on aflyout, Richie Sexson walked before Broussard's sacrifice flycut the Mariners deficit to 3-1. Johjima followed by hitting a1-0 pitch form Gaudin over the left field wall to even the scoreat 3-3. Gaudin (8-6) allowed four runs, four hits and a walk in eightinnings to lose his third straight decision. The righthander,who struck out seven, has yielded at least four runs in each ofhis last four starts, including five runs apiece in his previousthree outings. Oakland has lost two straight and three of four.
Ramirez continues to impress at home, Mariners edge Athletics <h3>SEATTLE 4, OAKLAND 3</h3>SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Horacio Ramirez continues to feel right athome. Ramirez pitched six effective innings and Yuniesky Betancourthit a key home run as the Seattle Mariners posted a 4-3 victoryover the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. Kenji Johjima hit a two-run homer and Ben Broussard also drovein a run for Seattle, which has won two straight following aseven-game losing streak. Ramirez (6-3) remains perfect at home, going 6-for-6 in startsat Safeco Field with a 2.63 ERA. It's the complete opposite ofhis road record, where he is 0-3 with a 13.72 ERA in fiveoutings. "At home, I'm making the pitch in the big situation, liketoday," Ramirez said. "However on the road, like my last start,I'm not able to do that which turns into a big inning, andoverall it turns into a loss." Against Oakland, the lefthander allowed three runs, six hits andfive walks to win four of his last five decisions. After Ramirez left the game the Mariners' bullpen took over.Chris Reitsma, Sean Green, George Sherrill and rookie Mark Loweall combined to hold Oakland to one hit over the next 1 2/3innings before All-Star closer J.J. Putz entered the game withtwo on and two out in the eighth. "The bullpen pulled together," Seattle manager John McLarensaid. "That was good to see." Putz, who leads the American League in saves, struck out pinchhitter Jack Cust to end the threat. In the ninth, the 6-5,250-pound stopper worked around a two-out walk to Nick Swisherto earn his 30th save in 31 chances. He had just blown hisfirst save opportunity of the season Wednesday vs. the TexasRangers. "I wasn't that worried about it," said Putz of taking the moundafter failing to convert his last save opportunity. "It's justone game. You move on and worry about tomorrow. I was moreworried about us turning this (losing streak) around." With the game knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth,Betancourt hit a 1-0 pitch from A's starter Chad Gaudin over thecenter field fence to give Seattle the lead. "I knew I hit it well," Betancourt said through an interpreter."But, I thought it was going to go off the wall since it was ona line." The 27-year-old Ramirez was tagged for his three runs in thesecond inning before settling down. In the top of the frame, Mike Piazza singled and one out latermoved to second on a walk to Dan Johnson. After Marco Scutarohit a base hit up the middle to load the bases, Donnie Murphybelted a double to the center field wall, clearing the bases togive Oakland a 3-0 lead. However, the Mariners responded a half-inning later. After Adrian Beltre hit a leadoff double and moved to third on aflyout, Richie Sexson walked before Broussard's sacrifice flycut the Mariners' deficit to 3-1. Johjima followed by hitting a1-0 pitch from Gaudin over the left field wall to even thescore at 3-3. Gaudin (8-6) allowed four runs, four hits and a walk in eightinnings to lose his third straight decision. The righthander,who struck out seven, has yielded at least four runs in each ofhis last four starts, including five runs apiece in his previousthree outings. "Compared to the last few starts, I really take a positive noteout of this one," Gaudin said. "I think I pitched well tonight.I'm happy with it. A couple bad pitches, but it happens." Oakland has lost two straight and three of four.
