GAME THREAD: AL: SEATTLE (63-50) at CHI WHITE SOX (54-61)

Mariners power surge helps Mariners to blowout win

<h3>SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners are enjoying August.Raul Ibanez and Yuniesky Betancourt are a big reason why.

Raul Ibanez belted a three-run homer and Betancourt hit a grandslam as the Mariners posted a 7-6 victory over the Chicago WhiteSox on Saturday.


Ibanez, who had a career-high 33 home runs and 123 RBI lastseason, had not found his power swing all season - six homersthrough July - and struggled in general last month, batting .184(19-for-103) with no home runs and 12 RBI. This month has beena different story for the 35-year-old, however, batting .457(16-for-35) and clubbing five homers and 12 RBI, helping theMariners to 6-3 record in August.


With two runners on in Seattle's three-run first, Ibanez beltedhis fifth homer in five games to left off White Sox starterGavin Floyd (1-2) for a quick 3-0 lead and later notched hisfifth consecutive multiple-hit game and third three-hit contestin his last five with singles in the fifth and the ninth.

The light-hitting Betancourt, who matched his career high withhis eighth homer, is also enjoying a power surge of his own. The25-year-old Cuban effectively put an end to Floyd's outing,crushing a first-pitch fastball he saw from the White Sox hurlerinto the seats into left-center for his first career grand slamand a 7-1 lead.


Miguel Batista (12-8) benefited from the power show and set anew career high with his 12th win. The righthander won for thefourth time in his last five decisions, allowing two runs andsix hits, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.


The game moved innocently enough into the ninth with theMariners holding a 7-2 lead, but relievers Ed O'Flaherty andGeorge Sherrill were unable to record an out and loaded thebases before handing it over to closer J.J. Putz, who yielded afirst-pitch grand slam to Josh Fields to trim the Seattleadvantage to 7-6.


Putz would settle down and retire the next three hitters hefaced to post his 34th save in 36 chances.


Richie Sexson and Jose Lopez each added two hits for theMariners, who guaranteed themselves a series win in Chicago forthe first time since May 2-4, 2003.


Floyd continued his stretch of good starts followed by poorstarts, surrendering seven runs and seven hits over four frames,one start after tossing six scoreless innings against Detroit.

 

AL: SEATTLE at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEATTLE (7) AT CHI WHITE SOX (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEATTLE 1ST: I Suzuki grounded out to third. J Vidro walked. J Guillen
singled to left center, J Vidro to third. R Ibanez homered to left, J Vidro
and J Guillen scored. A Beltre flied out to left. R Sexson flied out to
center. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 3RD: S Podsednik singled to right. T Hall flied out to left.
S Podsednik stole second. D Richar walked. J Owens singled to left,
S Podsednik scored, D Richar to second. J Fields flied out to right. D Richar
to third, J Owens to second on passed ball by K Johjima. J Thome flied out to
left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

SEATTLE 4TH: A Beltre lined out to first. R Sexson singled to deep left.
K Johjima hit by pitch, R Sexson to second. J Lopez singled to left, R Sexson
to third, K Johjima to second. Y Betancourt homered to center, R Sexson,
K Johjima and J Lopez scored. I Suzuki flied out to right. J Vidro singled to
center. J Guillen struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7,
CHI WHITE SOX 1.

CHI WHITE SOX 5TH: T Hall grounded out to shortstop. D Richar walked.
J Owens singled to right, D Richar to third. J Fields singled to left, D Richar
scored, J Owens to second. J Thome flied out to left, J Owens to third. J Dye
walked, J Fields to second. D Erstad struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 9TH: A Jones in left field. T Hall singled to center.
A Gonzalez hit for D Richar. A Gonzalez singled to shallow left, T Hall to
second. G Sherrill relieved E O'Flaherty. J Owens walked, T Hall to third,
A Gonzalez to second. J Putz relieved G Sherrill. J Fields homered to center,
T Hall, A Gonzalez and J Owens scored. J Thome flied out to right. J Dye struck
out swinging. D Erstad struck out looking. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7,
CHI WHITE SOX 6.</div>

 

AL: SEATTLE at CHI WHITE SOX

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SEATTLE (7) AT CHI WHITE SOX (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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

Chi White Sox Starting Lineups -- J Owens CF, J Fields 3B, J Thome DH, J Dye RF,
D Erstad 1B, A Cintron SS, S Podsednik LF, T Hall C, D Richar 2B, G Floyd RHP.

Umpires -- Eric Cooper (HP), Andy Fletcher (1B), Mike Reilly (2B), Jeff Kellogg (3B).

Gametime Weather: 87 degrees, Clear, wind in from right at 9 mph.


SEATTLE 1ST: I Suzuki grounded out to third. J Vidro walked. J Guillen
singled to left center, J Vidro to third. R Ibanez homered to left, J Vidro
and J Guillen scored. A Beltre flied out to left. R Sexson flied out to
center. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 1ST: J Owens grounded out to second. J Fields struck out
swinging. J Thome struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3,
CHI WHITE SOX 0.

SEATTLE 2ND: K Johjima singled to left. J Lopez fouled out to first.
Y Betancourt flied out to center. I Suzuki grounded out to second. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 2ND: J Dye flied out to center. D Erstad struck out
swinging. A Cintron struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3,
CHI WHITE SOX 0.

SEATTLE 3RD: J Vidro lined out to right. J Guillen grounded out to third.
R Ibanez struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, CHI WHITE SOX 0.

CHI WHITE SOX 3RD: S Podsednik singled to right. T Hall flied out to left.
S Podsednik stole second. D Richar walked. J Owens singled to left,
S Podsednik scored, D Richar to second. J Fields flied out to right. D Richar
to third, J Owens to second on passed ball by K Johjima. J Thome flied out to
left. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 3, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

SEATTLE 4TH: A Beltre lined out to first. R Sexson singled to deep left.
K Johjima hit by pitch, R Sexson to second. J Lopez singled to left, R Sexson
to third, K Johjima to second. Y Betancourt homered to center, R Sexson,
K Johjima and J Lopez scored. I Suzuki flied out to right. J Vidro singled to
center. J Guillen struck out swinging. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7,
CHI WHITE SOX 1.

CHI WHITE SOX 4TH: J Dye walked. D Erstad grounded into fielder's choice
to third, J Dye out at second. A Cintron singled to right, D Erstad to second.
S Podsednik grounded into double play, first to shortstop to pitcher,
A Cintron out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

SEATTLE 5TH: J Contreras relieved G Floyd. R Ibanez reached on infield
single to second. A Beltre fouled out to first. R Sexson singled to center,
R Ibanez to second. K Johjima flied out to center. J Lopez reached on infield
single to shortstop, R Ibanez to third, R Sexson to second. Y Betancourt flied
out to center. (0 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 1.

CHI WHITE SOX 5TH: T Hall grounded out to shortstop. D Richar walked.
J Owens singled to right, D Richar to third. J Fields singled to left, D Richar
scored, J Owens to second. J Thome flied out to left, J Owens to third. J Dye
walked, J Fields to second. D Erstad struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

SEATTLE 6TH: I Suzuki singled to center. I Suzuki stole second. J Vidro
walked. J Guillen lined out to second. R Ibanez flied out to left. A Beltre
grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 6TH: A Cintron struck out swinging. S Podsednik reached on
infield single to third. S Podsednik stole second. T Hall grounded out to
shortstop. E O'Flaherty relieved M Batista. D Richar struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

SEATTLE 7TH: R Sexson struck out looking. K Johjima popped out to second.
J Lopez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 7TH: J Owens flied out to left. J Fields struck out
swinging. J Thome flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7,
CHI WHITE SOX 2.

SEATTLE 8TH: Y Betancourt popped out to third. I Suzuki struck out
swinging. J Vidro struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7,
CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 8TH: J Dye walked. D Erstad grounded into fielder's choice
to pitcher, J Dye out at second. A Cintron flied out to center. S Podsednik
grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

SEATTLE 9TH: J Guillen grounded out to first. R Ibanez singled to left.
A Jones ran for R Ibanez. A Beltre struck out looking. R Sexson grounded out to
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 2.

CHI WHITE SOX 9TH: A Jones in left field. T Hall singled to center.
A Gonzalez hit for D Richar. A Gonzalez singled to shallow left, T Hall to
second. G Sherrill relieved E O'Flaherty. J Owens walked, T Hall to third,
A Gonzalez to second. J Putz relieved G Sherrill. J Fields homered to center,
T Hall, A Gonzalez and J Owens scored. J Thome flied out to right. J Dye struck
out swinging. D Erstad struck out looking. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) SEATTLE 7,
CHI WHITE SOX 6.</div>

 

Mariners power surge helps Mariners to blowout win

<h3>SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners are enjoying August.Raul Ibanez and Yuniesky Betancourt are a big reason why.

Raul Ibanez belted a three-run homer and Betancourt hit a grandslam as the Mariners posted a 7-6 victory over the Chicago WhiteSox on Saturday.


Ibanez, who had a career-high 33 home runs and 123 RBI lastseason, had not found his power swing all season - six homersthrough July - and struggled in general last month, batting .184(19-for-103) with no home runs and 12 RBI.


This month has been a different story for the 35-year-old,however, batting .457 (16-for-35) and clubbing five homers and12 RBI, helping the Mariners to 6-3 record in August.

"We're playing well this trip," Ibanez said. Tomorrow, we willtry and win the series and, as a group, we'll give it our bestshot."


With two runners on in Seattle's three-run first, Ibanez beltedhis fifth homer in five games to left off White Sox starterGavin Floyd (1-2) for a quick 3-0 lead and later notched hisfifth consecutive multiple-hit game and third three-hit contestin his last five with singles in the fifth and the ninth.

The light-hitting Betancourt, who matched his career high withhis eighth homer, is also enjoying a power surge of his own. The25-year-old Cuban effectively put an end to Floyd's outing,crushing a first-pitch fastball he saw from the White Sox hurlerinto the seats into left-center for his first career grand slamand a 7-1 lead.


"I haven't tried anything different in the past year, I think Ihave a little more experience and stick to my routine and bepatient," Betancourt said through an interpreter.


Miguel Batista (12-8) benefited from the power show and set anew career high with his 12th win. The righthander won for thefourth time in his last five decisions, allowing two runs andsix hits, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.


"It feels good, I don't look at decisions like wins and losses,"Batista said. "For us, it's quality starts. Especially forus, we're so close to the pennant race we're looking forperformance and being able to be the winning team at the end ofthe game."


The game moved innocently enough into the ninth with theMariners holding a 7-2 lead, but relievers Ed O'Flaherty andGeorge Sherrill were unable to record an out and loaded thebases before handing it over to closer J.J. Putz, who yielded afirst-pitch grand slam to Josh Fields to trim the Seattleadvantage to 7-6.


Putz settled down and retired the next three hitters he faced topost his 34th save in 36 chances.


Richie Sexson and Jose Lopez each added two hits for theMariners, who won a series in Chicago for the first time sinceMay 2-4, 2003.


Floyd continued his stretch of good starts followed by poorstarts, surrendering seven runs and seven hits over four frames,one start after tossing six scoreless innings against Detroit.

 

Mariners power surge helps Mariners to blowout win

<h3>SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners are enjoying August.Raul Ibanez and Yuniesky Betancourt are a big reason why.

Raul Ibanez belted a three-run homer and Betancourt hit a grandslam as the Mariners posted a 7-6 victory over the Chicago WhiteSox on Saturday.


Ibanez, who had a career-high 33 home runs and 123 RBI lastseason, had not found his power swing all season - six homersthrough July - and struggled in general last month, batting .184(19-for-103) with no home runs and 12 RBI.


This month has been a different story for the 35-year-old,however, batting .457 (16-for-35) and clubbing five homers and12 RBI, helping the Mariners to 6-3 record in August.

"We're playing well this trip," Ibanez said. Tomorrow, we willtry and win the series and, as a group, we'll give it our bestshot."


With two runners on in Seattle's three-run first, Ibanez beltedhis fifth homer in five games to left off White Sox starterGavin Floyd (1-2) for a quick 3-0 lead and later notched hisfifth consecutive multiple-hit game and third three-hit contestin his last five with singles in the fifth and the ninth.

The light-hitting Betancourt, who matched his career high withhis eighth homer, is also enjoying a power surge of his own. The25-year-old Cuban effectively put an end to Floyd's outing,crushing a first-pitch fastball he saw from the White Sox hurlerinto the seats into left-center for his first career grand slamand a 7-1 lead.


"I haven't tried anything different in the past year, I think Ihave a little more experience and stick to my routine and bepatient," Betancourt said through an interpreter.


Miguel Batista (12-8) benefited from the power show and set anew career high with his 12th win. The righthander won for thefourth time in his last five decisions, allowing two runs andsix hits, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.


"It feels good, I don't look at decisions like wins and losses,"Batista said. "For us, it's quality starts. Especially forus, we're so close to the pennant race we're looking forperformance and being able to be the winning team at the end ofthe game."


The game moved innocently enough into the ninth with theMariners holding a 7-2 lead, but relievers Ed O'Flaherty andGeorge Sherrill were unable to record an out and loaded thebases before handing it over to closer J.J. Putz, who yielded afirst-pitch grand slam to Josh Fields to trim the Seattleadvantage to 7-6.


Putz settled down and retired the next three hitters he faced topost his 34th save in 36 chances.


Richie Sexson and Jose Lopez each added two hits for theMariners, who won a series in Chicago for the first time sinceMay 2-4, 2003.


Floyd continued his stretch of good starts followed by poorstarts, surrendering seven runs and seven hits over four frames,one start after tossing six scoreless innings against Detroit.

 

Mariners early power surge holds White Sox

<h3>SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners are enjoying August.Raul Ibanez and Yuniesky Betancourt are a big reason why.

Raul Ibanez belted a three-run homer and Betancourt hit a grandslam as the Mariners posted a 7-6 victory over the Chicago WhiteSox on Saturday.


Ibanez, who had a career-high 33 home runs and 123 RBI lastseason, had not found his power swing all season - six homersthrough July - and struggled in general last month, batting .184(19-for-103) with no home runs and 12 RBI.


This month has been a different story for the 35-year-old,however, batting .457 (16-for-35) and clubbing five homers and12 RBI, helping the Mariners to 6-3 record in August.

"We're playing well this trip," Ibanez said. Tomorrow, we willtry and win the series and, as a group, we'll give it our bestshot."


With two runners on in Seattle's three-run first, Ibanez beltedhis fifth homer in five games to left off White Sox starterGavin Floyd (1-2) for a quick 3-0 lead and later notched hisfifth consecutive multiple-hit game and third three-hit contestin his last five with singles in the fifth and the ninth.

The light-hitting Betancourt, who matched his career high withhis eighth homer, is also enjoying a power surge of his own. The25-year-old Cuban effectively put an end to Floyd's outing,crushing a first-pitch fastball he saw from the White Sox hurlerinto the seats into left-center for his first career grand slamand a 7-1 lead.


"I haven't tried anything different in the past year, I think Ihave a little more experience and stick to my routine and bepatient," Betancourt said through an interpreter.


Miguel Batista (12-8) benefited from the power show and set anew career high with his 12th win. The righthander won for thefourth time in his last five decisions, allowing two runs andsix hits, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.


"It feels good, I don't look at decisions like wins and losses,"Batista said. "For us, it's quality starts. Especially forus, we're so close to the pennant race we're looking forperformance and being able to be the winning team at the end ofthe game."


The game moved innocently enough into the ninth with theMariners holding a 7-2 lead, but relievers Ed O'Flaherty andGeorge Sherrill were unable to record an out and loaded thebases before handing it over to closer J.J. Putz, who yielded afirst-pitch grand slam to Josh Fields to trim the Seattleadvantage to 7-6.


Putz settled down and retired the next three hitters he faced topost his 34th save in 36 chances.


Richie Sexson and Jose Lopez each added two hits for theMariners, who won a series in Chicago for the first time sinceMay 2-4, 2003.


Floyd continued his stretch of good starts followed by poorstarts, surrendering seven runs and seven hits over four frames,one start after tossing six scoreless innings against Detroit.

 

Mariners early power surge holds White Sox

<h3>SEATTLE 7, CHI WHITE SOX 6</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners are enjoying August.Raul Ibanez and Yuniesky Betancourt are a big reason why.

Raul Ibanez belted a three-run homer and Betancourt hit a grandslam as the Mariners posted a 7-6 victory over the Chicago WhiteSox on Saturday.


Ibanez, who had a career-high 33 home runs and 123 RBI lastseason, had not found his power swing all season - six homersthrough July - and struggled in general last month, batting .184(19-for-103) with no home runs and 12 RBI.


This month has been a different story for the 35-year-old,however, batting .457 (16-for-35) and clubbing five homers and12 RBI, helping the Mariners to 6-3 record in August.

"We're playing well this trip," Ibanez said. Tomorrow, we willtry and win the series and, as a group, we'll give it our bestshot."


With two runners on in Seattle's three-run first, Ibanez beltedhis fifth homer in five games to left off White Sox starterGavin Floyd (1-2) for a quick 3-0 lead and later notched hisfifth consecutive multiple-hit game and third three-hit contestin his last five with singles in the fifth and the ninth.

The light-hitting Betancourt, who matched his career high withhis eighth homer, is also enjoying a power surge of his own. The25-year-old Cuban effectively put an end to Floyd's outing,crushing a first-pitch fastball he saw from the White Sox hurlerinto the seats into left-center for his first career grand slamand a 7-1 lead.


"I haven't tried anything different in the past year, I think Ihave a little more experience and stick to my routine and bepatient," Betancourt said through an interpreter.


Miguel Batista (12-8) benefited from the power show and set anew career high with his 12th win. The righthander won for thefourth time in his last five decisions, allowing two runs andsix hits, striking out six over 5 2/3 innings.


"It feels good, I don't look at decisions like wins and losses,"Batista said. "For us, it's quality starts. Especially forus, we're so close to the pennant race we're looking forperformance and being able to be the winning team at the end ofthe game."


The game moved innocently enough into the ninth with theMariners holding a 7-2 lead, but relievers Ed O'Flaherty andGeorge Sherrill were unable to record an out and loaded thebases before handing it over to closer J.J. Putz, who yielded afirst-pitch grand slam to Josh Fields to trim the Seattleadvantage to 7-6.


Putz settled down and retired the next three hitters he faced topost his 34th save in 36 chances.


Richie Sexson and Jose Lopez each added two hits for theMariners, who will be looking for their first series win againstChicago since May 2-4, 2003.


Floyd continued his stretch of good starts followed by poorstarts, surrendering seven runs and seven hits over four frames,one start after tossing six scoreless innings against Detroit.