GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: CHI WHITE SOX (54-66) at SEATTLE (66-52)

AL: CHI WHITE SOX (54-66) at SEATTLE (66-52)

<h3>Mariners lean on Batista to keep slim wild-card lead</h3>



<div class="pre">Chi White Sox (54-66) at Seattle (66-52) 10:05 pm EDT</div>

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Hoping to keep their slim lead in theAmerican League wild card standings alive, the Seattle Marinersbegin a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

Looking to avoid three straight losses for the first time sincedropping seven straight from July 21-26, the Mariners hope tohold off the New York Yankees (67-54), who they have a one-halfgame advantage over in the wild card.


Miguel Batista (12-8, 4.13 ERA) will look to extend his stringof strong pitching. Already having set a career high in wins,he has allowed more than two earned runs only twice in his last11 outings.


In Saturday's 7-6 win over the White Sox, the righthanderyielded two runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking outsix.


Batista's track record points to success in this start as well,as he is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in nine career games - six starts -against Chicago.


Opposing him will be Jose Contreras (6-14, 6.24), whodesperately wants to avoid becoming the first pitcher in themajors to drop 15 games. He had been abysmal since the middleof June, losing seven straight starts while posting a 10.38 ERA.

However, the 35-year-old has started to turn it around sincepicking up a win in two innings of relief against the ClevelandIndians on August 8. Returned to the rotation on Saturday,Contreras yielded five hits over five scoreless innings, butfailed to figure in the 7-6 loss to the Mariners.


Overall, Contreras is 2-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in four careergames - three starts - vs. Seattle.

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">CHI WHITE SOX AT SEATTLE -- LINEUPS

CHI WHITE SOX SEATTLE
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Jerry Owens CF .249 1 7 Ichiro Suzuki CF .347 5 48
Josh Fields 3B .250 13 41 Jose Vidro DH .319 4 45
Jim Thome DH .263 18 60 Jose Guillen RF .285 16 70
Jermaine Dye RF .245 24 62 Raul Ibanez LF .271 12 75
A.J. Pierzynski C .272 11 40 Adrian Beltre 3B .267 18 70
Darin Erstad 1B .261 2 26 Richie Sexson 1B .208 19 58
Scott Podsednik LF .257 1 7 Kenji Johjima C .277 13 45
Juan Uribe SS .227 13 49 Jose Lopez 2B .261 8 50
Danny Richar 2B .171 0 2 Yuniesky Betancour SS .291 8 49

Jose Contreras RHP (6-14, 6.24) Miguel Batista RHP (12-8, 4.13)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE
WARMUPS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS (6-14, 6.24)
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA (12-8, 4.13)

UMPIRES: HP - RON KULPA
1B - PAUL EMMEL
2B - DAN IASSOGNA
3B - DALE SCOTT

WEATHER: 72 Degrees, partly cloudy
WIND: 9 mph, left to right</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE
STARTING BATS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS AND A.J. PIERZYNSKI
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA AND KENJI JOHJIMA

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J OWENS (.249, 1 HR, 7 RBI)
J FIELDS (.250, 13 HR, 41 RBI)
J THOME (.263, 18 HR, 60 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">CHI WHITE SOX (0) VS SEATTLE (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
A Pierzynski c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Erstad 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
S Podsednik lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .347
J Vidro dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .319
J Guillen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
R Ibanez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267
R Sexson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .208
K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
CHI WHITE SOX - 0 -- 0
SEATTLE - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.24

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Batista 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.10

Pitches-strikes: M Batista 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: M Batista 1-0.
Batters faced: M Batista 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: 72 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 9 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: I SUZUKI (.347, 5 HR, 48 RBI)
J VIDRO (.319, 4 HR, 45 RBI)
J GUILLEN (.285, 16 HR, 70 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE
CONFIRMED STARTERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY RAUL IBANEZ (13) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN
THE 1ST OFF JOSE CONTRERAS SCORED JOSE GUILLEN.
CURRENT SCORE: CHI WHITE SOX 0, SEATTLE 2

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: A BELTRE (.267, 18 HR, 70 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J DYE (.245, 24 HR, 62 RBI)
A PIERZYNSKI (.272, 11 HR, 40 RBI)
D ERSTAD (.261, 2 HR, 26 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">CHI WHITE SOX (0) VS SEATTLE (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
J Dye rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .245
A Pierzynski c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272
D Erstad 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
S Podsednik lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346
J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
J Guillen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .287
R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .273
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .207
K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - J Guillen (19, J Contreras); A Beltre (31, J Contreras). HR - R
Ibanez (13, 1st inning off J Contreras 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Ibanez 2 (77).
2-out RBI - R Ibanez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Sexson 1.
Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHI WHITE SOX - 0 -- 0
SEATTLE - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 1 3 2 2 0 1 1 6.33

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Batista 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.10

Pitches-strikes: J Contreras 22-18; M Batista 11-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J
Contreras 2-0; M Batista 1-0. Batters faced: J Contreras 6; M Batista 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: K JOHJIMA (.277, 13 HR, 45 RBI)
J LOPEZ (.261, 8 HR, 50 RBI)
Y BETANCOURT (.291, 8 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">CHI WHITE SOX (0) VS SEATTLE (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Erstad 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
S Podsednik lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346
J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
J Guillen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .287
R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .273
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .207
K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291

Totals 6 2 3 2 0 1 1

BATTING: 2B - J Guillen (19, J Contreras); A Beltre (31, J Contreras). HR - R
Ibanez (13, 1st inning off J Contreras 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Ibanez 2 (77).
2-out RBI - R Ibanez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Sexson 1.
Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHI WHITE SOX - 00 -- 0
SEATTLE - 2 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 1 3 2 2 0 1 1 6.33

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Batista 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.08

Pitches-strikes: J Contreras 22-18; M Batista 26-17. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Contreras 2-0; M Batista 2-2. Batters faced: J Contreras 6; M Batista 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J URIBE (.227, 13 HR, 49 RBI)
D RICHAR (.171, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
J OWENS (.248, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">CHI WHITE SOX (0) VS SEATTLE (2) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
J Fields 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249
J Thome dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .262
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Erstad 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
S Podsednik lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
J Uribe ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227
D Richar 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .171

Totals 6 0 0 0 1 2 1

BATTING: Team LOB - 1.


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346
J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
J Guillen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .287
R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .273
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .207
K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
Y Betancourt ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290

Totals 9 2 3 2 0 2 1

BATTING: 2B - J Guillen (19, J Contreras); A Beltre (31, J Contreras). HR - R
Ibanez (13, 1st inning off J Contreras 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Ibanez 2 (77).
2-out RBI - R Ibanez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Sexson 1.
Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHI WHITE SOX - 00 -- 0
SEATTLE - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 2 3 2 2 0 2 1 6.28

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Batista 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.08

Pitches-strikes: J Contreras 33-26; M Batista 26-17. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Contreras 4-0; M Batista 2-2. Batters faced: J Contreras 9; M Batista 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: I SUZUKI (.346, 0-FOR-1)
J VIDRO (.318, 0-FOR-1)
J GUILLEN (.287, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">CHI WHITE SOX (0) VS SEATTLE (2) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .248
J Fields 3b 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .248
J Thome dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .262
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Erstad 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
S Podsednik lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
J Uribe ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .230
D Richar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .167

Totals 10 0 1 0 2 3 6

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Thome 1. Team LOB - 3.


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346
J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318
J Guillen rf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .287
R Ibanez lf 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 .273
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .207
K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
Y Betancourt ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290

Totals 9 2 3 2 0 2 1

BATTING: 2B - J Guillen (19, J Contreras); A Beltre (31, J Contreras). HR - R
Ibanez (13, 1st inning off J Contreras 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - R Ibanez 2 (77).
2-out RBI - R Ibanez 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Sexson 1.
Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHI WHITE SOX - 000 -- 0
SEATTLE - 20 -- 2
----------------------------------------------------

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 2 3 2 2 0 2 1 6.28

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Batista 3 1 0 0 2 3 0 4.05

Pitches-strikes: J Contreras 33-26; M Batista 48-28. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Contreras 4-0; M Batista 2-4. Batters faced: J Contreras 9; M Batista 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY JOSE VIDRO SCORED ICHIRO SUZUKI.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: CHI WHITE SOX 0
SEATTLE 3 BOTTOM, 3RD

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J GUILLEN (.287, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA

DUE UP FOR CHI WHITE SOX: J DYE (.244, 0-FOR-1)
A PIERZYNSKI (.271, 0-FOR-1)
D ERSTAD (.261, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">CHI WHITE SOX (0) VS SEATTLE (3) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

CHI WHITE SOX ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Owens cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .248
J Fields 3b 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 .248
J Thome dh 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .262
J Dye rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244
A Pierzynski c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
D Erstad 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .261
S Podsednik lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255
J Uribe ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .230
D Richar 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .167

Totals 10 0 1 0 2 3 6

BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Thome 1. Team LOB - 3.

FIELDING: E - J Contreras (5, throw).


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .347
J Vidro dh 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .318
J Guillen rf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .286
R Ibanez lf 2 1 1 2 0 0 0 .272
A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .269
R Sexson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .207
K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276
J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261
Y Betancourt ss 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .290

Totals 12 3 4 3 0 2 1

BATTING: 2B - J Guillen (19, J Contreras); A Beltre (31, J Contreras). HR - R
Ibanez (13, 1st inning off J Contreras 1 on, 2 Out). SF - J Vidro. RBI - R
Ibanez 2 (77), J Vidro (46). 2-out RBI - R Ibanez 2. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - R Sexson 1. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
CHI WHITE SOX - 000 -- 0
SEATTLE - 201 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

CHI WHITE SOX ip h r er bb so hr era
J Contreras 3 4 3 3 0 2 1 6.30

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
M Batista 3 1 0 0 2 3 0 4.05

Pitches-strikes: J Contreras 47-34; M Batista 48-28. Ground balls-fly balls:
J Contreras 5-2; M Batista 2-4. Batters faced: J Contreras 13; M Batista 12.

UMPIRES: HP--Ron Kulpa. 1B--Paul Emmel. 2B--Dan Iassogna. 3B--Dale Scott.

Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 0 mph, in from left.</div>

 

AL: CHI WHITE SOX at SEATTLE

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

CURRENT PITCHERS: CHA - JOSE CONTRERAS
SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA

DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: A BELTRE (.269, 1-FOR-1)
R SEXSON (.207, 0-FOR-1)
K JOHJIMA (.276, 0-FOR-1)</div>