GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TAMPA BAY (61-85) at SEATTLE (76-68)

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 7 10 0
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 5 8 12 1 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TAM - DAN WHEELER
SEA - RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B HARRIS (.283, 1-FOR-4, RBI)
G NORTON (.224, 1-FOR-2, 2 BB, HR, 3 RBI)
C PENA (.280, 1-FOR-2, 2 BB, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (7) VS SEATTLE (8) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Harris 2b 4 2 1 1 0 1 2 .283
G Norton dh 2 1 1 3 2 0 0 .224
C Pena 1b 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 .280
B Upton cf 3 0 2 2 1 0 3 .312
D Young rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .293
J Gomes lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .241
R Casanova c 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .250
J Guzman 3b 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .313
J Velandia ss 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .500

Totals 31 7 10 7 5 8 11

BATTING: 2B - C Pena (29, J Weaver); J Velandia (1, S White); J Guzman (1, S
White). HR - G Norton (4, 6th inning off S White 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - B Upton 2
(80), B Harris (57), G Norton 3 (20), C Pena (111). 2-out RBI - B Upton, G
Norton 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. GIDP - D Young,
B Upton. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Upton (17, 2nd base off J Weaver/K Johjima). CS - J Gomes
(2, 2nd base by S White/K Johjima), B Upton (8, 2nd base by R Rowland-Smith).


FIELDING: PB - R Casanova. DP: 2 (J Velandia-B Harris-C Pena, B Harris-C
Pena).


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 4 0 3 2 1 1 0 .351
A Beltre 3b 5 0 1 1 0 0 3 .281
R Ibanez lf 4 1 1 0 1 2 3 .283
J Guillen rf 3 1 1 0 1 2 0 .290
B Broussard 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .286
J Vidro dh 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .317
K Johjima c 4 1 2 1 0 2 1 .287
J Lopez pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .259
W Bloomquist 2b 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .280
a-J Reed ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
Y Betancourt ss 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 .291

Totals 34 8 12 7 5 8 11

a-singled to right for W Bloomquist in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - K Johjima (28, J Hammel); Y Betancourt 2 (37, G Balfour, D
Wheeler). RBI - I Suzuki 2 (62), Y Betancourt 3 (63), K Johjima (59), A Beltre
(92). 2-out RBI - I Suzuki, K Johjima, Y Betancourt 2, A Beltre. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - B Broussard 1, R Ibanez 2. GIDP - A Beltre, J
Vidro. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - W Bloomquist (5, ground ball). DP: 2 (A Beltre-K Johjima-B
Broussard, W Bloomquist-Y Betancourt-B Broussard).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 140 002 00 -- 7
SEATTLE - 000 010 25 -- 8
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 6 5 1 1 0 6 0 6.13
G Balfour 1/3 2 2 2 2 1 0 5.89
S Dohmann 2/3 0 2 2 2 0 0 3.81
D Wheeler 1 5 3 3 1 1 0 6.63

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver 1 1/3 6 5 5 2 1 0 6.34
S White 4 1/3 3 2 2 3 2 1 6.32
R Rowland-Smith 2 1/3 1 0 0 0 5 0 4.05

S Dohmann pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

IBB - I Suzuki (by D Wheeler). Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 97-62; G Balfour
20-10; S Dohmann 15-6; D Wheeler 32-17; J Weaver 45-25; S White 55-29; R
Rowland-Smith 30-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hammel 5-7; G Balfour 0-0; S
Dohmann 2-0; D Wheeler 2-0; J Weaver 2-1; S White 9-1; R Rowland-Smith 1-0.
Batters faced: J Hammel 23; G Balfour 5; S Dohmann 3; D Wheeler 8; J Weaver 12;
S White 17; R Rowland-Smith 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Phil
Cuzzi.

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

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Burke catching.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 7
SEATTLE 8 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Harris (.283, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Lopez at second base.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 7
SEATTLE 8 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Harris (.283, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: A Jones in left field.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 7
SEATTLE 8 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Harris (.283, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - PITCHING CHANGE
SEA: J.J. PUTZ (3-1, 1.41) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 8

DUE UP FOR TAMPABAY: B HARRIS (.283, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL AT SEATTLE - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Putz relieved R Rowland-Smith.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TAMPA BAY 7
SEATTLE 8 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B Harris (.283, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 10 0
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 5 x 8 12 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TAM - JASON HAMMEL, GRANT BALFOUR (7TH), SCOTT DOHMANN (7TH), DAN
WHEELER (8TH) AND RAUL CASANOVA

SEA - JEFF WEAVER, SEAN WHITE (2ND), RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH
(6TH), J.J. PUTZ (9TH) AND KENJI JOHJIMA, JAMIE BURKE (9TH)

HOME RUNS: TAM - GREG NORTON (4) OFF SEAN WHITE IN THE 6TH, 1 ON

SEA - NONE</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">AL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TAMPA BAY 1 4 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 7 10 0
SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 5 x 8 12 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TAM - JASON HAMMEL, GRANT BALFOUR (7TH), SCOTT DOHMANN (7TH), DAN
WHEELER (8TH) AND RAUL CASANOVA

SEA - JEFF WEAVER, SEAN WHITE (2ND), RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH
(6TH), J.J. PUTZ (9TH) AND KENJI JOHJIMA, JAMIE BURKE (9TH)


WP - RYAN ROWLAND-SMITH (1-0)
LP - DAN WHEELER (0-4)
SAVE - J.J. PUTZ (38)

HOME RUNS: TAM - GREG NORTON (4) OFF SEAN WHITE IN THE 6TH, 1 ON

SEA - NONE


TIME: 3:04 ATT: 23,991

PROBABLES: TAM - JAMES SHIELDS (12-8, 3.96)
SEA - FELIX HERNANDEZ (12-7, 4.17)</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">TAMPA BAY (7) VS SEATTLE (8) - FINAL

TAMPA BAY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
B Harris 2b 5 2 1 1 0 1 2 .283
G Norton dh 3 1 1 3 2 0 0 .222
C Pena 1b 3 1 1 1 2 1 0 .279
B Upton cf 3 0 2 2 1 0 3 .312
D Young rf 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .293
J Gomes lf 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 .241
R Casanova c 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 .250
J Guzman 3b 4 1 2 0 0 1 0 .313
J Velandia ss 4 1 2 0 0 1 1 .500

Totals 34 7 10 7 5 9 11

BATTING: 2B - C Pena (29, J Weaver); J Velandia (1, S White); J Guzman (1, S
White). HR - G Norton (4, 6th inning off S White 1 on, 2 Out). RBI - B Upton 2
(80), B Harris (57), G Norton 3 (20), C Pena (111). 2-out RBI - B Upton, G
Norton 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Young 1. GIDP - D Young,
B Upton. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: SB - B Upton (17, 2nd base off J Weaver/K Johjima). CS - J Gomes
(2, 2nd base by S White/K Johjima), B Upton (8, 2nd base by R Rowland-Smith).


FIELDING: PB - R Casanova. DP: 2 (J Velandia-B Harris-C Pena, B Harris-C
Pena).


SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
I Suzuki cf 4 0 3 2 1 1 0 .351
A Beltre 3b 5 0 1 1 0 0 3 .281
R Ibanez lf 4 1 1 0 1 2 3 .283
J Burke c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316
J Guillen rf 3 1 1 0 1 2 0 .290
B Broussard 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .286
J Vidro dh 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 .317
K Johjima c 4 1 2 1 0 2 1 .287
J Lopez pr-2b 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .259
W Bloomquist 2b 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .280
a-J Reed ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .300
A Jones lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .279
Y Betancourt ss 4 1 2 3 0 0 1 .291

Totals 34 8 12 7 5 8 11

a-singled to right for W Bloomquist in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - K Johjima (28, J Hammel); Y Betancourt 2 (37, G Balfour, D
Wheeler). RBI - I Suzuki 2 (62), Y Betancourt 3 (63), K Johjima (59), A Beltre
(92). 2-out RBI - I Suzuki, K Johjima, Y Betancourt 2, A Beltre. Runners left
in scoring position, 2 out - B Broussard 1, R Ibanez 2. GIDP - A Beltre, J
Vidro. Team LOB - 7.

FIELDING: E - W Bloomquist (5, ground ball). DP: 2 (A Beltre-K Johjima-B
Broussard, W Bloomquist-Y Betancourt-B Broussard).


----------------------------------------------------
TAMPA BAY - 140 002 000 -- 7
SEATTLE - 000 010 25x -- 8
----------------------------------------------------

TAMPA BAY ip h r er bb so hr era
J Hammel 6 5 1 1 0 6 0 6.13
G Balfour 1/3 2 2 2 2 1 0 5.89
S Dohmann (H, 4) 2/3 0 2 2 2 0 0 3.81
D Wheeler (L, 0-4; B, 2) 1 5 3 3 1 1 0 6.63

SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era
J Weaver 1 1/3 6 5 5 2 1 0 6.34
S White 4 1/3 3 2 2 3 2 1 6.32
R Rowland-Smith (W, 1-0) 2 1/3 1 0 0 0 5 0 4.05
J Putz (S, 38) 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.38

S Dohmann pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

IBB - I Suzuki (by D Wheeler). Pitches-strikes: J Hammel 97-62; G Balfour
20-10; S Dohmann 15-6; D Wheeler 32-17; J Weaver 45-25; S White 55-29; R
Rowland-Smith 30-21; J Putz 12-6. Ground balls-fly balls: J Hammel 5-7; G
Balfour 0-0; S Dohmann 2-0; D Wheeler 2-0; J Weaver 2-1; S White 9-1; R
Rowland-Smith 1-0; J Putz 1-1. Batters faced: J Hammel 23; G Balfour 5; S
Dohmann 3; D Wheeler 8; J Weaver 12; S White 17; R Rowland-Smith 7; J Putz 3.


UMPIRES: HP--Tom Hallion. 1B--Bruce Dreckman. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Phil
Cuzzi.

T--3:04. Att--23,991.
Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 0 mph, n/a.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TAMPA BAY 7
SEATTLE 8 FINAL</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAMPA BAY (7) AT SEATTLE (8) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TAMPA BAY 1ST: B Harris grounded out to second. G Norton grounded out to
first. C Pena doubled to deep right. B Upton singled to center, C Pena
scored. B Upton stole second. D Young struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 1, SEATTLE 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: J Gomes flied out to center. R Casanova singled to center.
J Guzman singled to left, R Casanova to second. J Velandia singled to center,
R Casanova to third, J Guzman to second. B Harris singled to left center,
R Casanova scored, J Guzman to third, J Velandia to second. G Norton walked,
J Guzman scored, J Velandia to third, B Harris to second. C Pena walked,
J Velandia scored, B Harris to third, G Norton to second. S White relieved
J Weaver. B Upton walked, B Harris scored, G Norton to third, C Pena to second.
D Young grounded into double play, third to catcher to first, G Norton out at
home.(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 5TH: K Johjima hit a ground rule double to deep left. W Bloomquist
grounded out to shortstop, K Johjima to third. Y Betancourt popped out to
second. I Suzuki singled to shallow left, K Johjima scored. A Beltre lined
out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 1.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: J Guzman doubled to deep right. J Velandia grounded into
fielder's choice to first, J Guzman out at third. B Harris grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, J Velandia out at second. G Norton homered to
right, B Harris scored. R Rowland-Smith relieved S White. C Pena grounded out
to first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 7TH: G Balfour relieved J Hammel. J Vidro walked. K Johjima struck
out looking. J Vidro to second on passed ball by R Casanova. W Bloomquist
walked. Y Betancourt hit a ground rule double to deep right, J Vidro scored,
W Bloomquist to third. I Suzuki singled to left, W Bloomquist scored,
Y Betancourt to third. S Dohmann relieved G Balfour. A Beltre grounded into
double play, shortstop to second to first, I Suzuki out at second.(2 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 3.

SEATTLE 8TH: R Ibanez walked. J Guillen walked, R Ibanez to second.
D Wheeler relieved S Dohmann. B Broussard singled to center, R Ibanez to third,
J Guillen to second. J Vidro grounded into double play, second to first,
R Ibanez scored, B Broussard out at second, J Guillen to third. K Johjima singled
to right center, J Guillen scored. J Reed hit for W Bloomquist. J Reed singled
to right, K Johjima to second. J Lopez ran for K Johjima. Y Betancourt doubled
to deep left, J Lopez and J Reed scored. I Suzuki intentionally walked.
A Beltre singled to left, Y Betancourt scored, I Suzuki to second. R Ibanez
struck out swinging. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 8.</div>

 

AL: TAMPA BAY at SEATTLE

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAMPA BAY (7) AT SEATTLE (8) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tampa Bay Starting Lineups -- B Harris 2B, G Norton DH, C Pena 1B, B Upton CF,
D Young RF, J Gomes LF, R Casanova C, J Guzman 3B, J Velandia SS, J Hammel RHP.

Seattle Starting Lineups -- I Suzuki CF, A Beltre 3B, R Ibanez LF, J Guillen
RF, B Broussard 1B, J Vidro DH, K Johjima C, W Bloomquist 2B, Y Betancourt SS,
J Weaver RHP.

Umpires -- Tom Hallion (HP), Bruce Dreckman (1B), Chris Guccione (2B), Phil Cuzzi (3B).

Gametime Weather: 68 degrees, Clear, wind n/a at 0 mph.


TAMPA BAY 1ST: B Harris grounded out to second. G Norton grounded out to
first. C Pena doubled to deep right. B Upton singled to center, C Pena
scored. B Upton stole second. D Young struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 1, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 1ST: I Suzuki struck out swinging. A Beltre grounded out to
pitcher. R Ibanez singled to left center. J Guillen singled to right,
R Ibanez to second. B Broussard struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 1, SEATTLE 0.

TAMPA BAY 2ND: J Gomes flied out to center. R Casanova singled to center.
J Guzman singled to left, R Casanova to second. J Velandia singled to center,
R Casanova to third, J Guzman to second. B Harris singled to left center,
R Casanova scored, J Guzman to third, J Velandia to second. G Norton walked,
J Guzman scored, J Velandia to third, B Harris to second. C Pena walked,
J Velandia scored, B Harris to third, G Norton to second. S White relieved
J Weaver. B Upton walked, B Harris scored, G Norton to third, C Pena to second.
D Young grounded into double play, third to catcher to first, G Norton out at
home.(4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 2ND: J Vidro flied out to right. K Johjima struck out swinging.
W Bloomquist grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5,
SEATTLE 0.

TAMPA BAY 3RD: J Gomes safe at first on error by second baseman
W Bloomquist. J Gomes caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. R Casanova
flied out to left. J Guzman grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Error)
TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 3RD: Y Betancourt lined out to center. I Suzuki singled to center.
A Beltre grounded out to first, I Suzuki to second. R Ibanez struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 0.

TAMPA BAY 4TH: J Velandia doubled to deep left. B Harris struck out
swinging. G Norton walked. C Pena walked, J Velandia to third, G Norton to
second. B Upton grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first,
C Pena out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 4TH: J Guillen struck out looking. B Broussard flied out to
center. J Vidro flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5,
SEATTLE 0.

TAMPA BAY 5TH: D Young grounded out to second. J Gomes struck out
swinging. R Casanova grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 0.

SEATTLE 5TH: K Johjima hit a ground rule double to deep left. W Bloomquist
grounded out to shortstop, K Johjima to third. Y Betancourt popped out to
second. I Suzuki singled to shallow left, K Johjima scored. A Beltre lined
out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 5, SEATTLE 1.

TAMPA BAY 6TH: J Guzman doubled to deep right. J Velandia grounded into
fielder's choice to first, J Guzman out at third. B Harris grounded into
fielder's choice to shortstop, J Velandia out at second. G Norton homered to
right, B Harris scored. R Rowland-Smith relieved S White. C Pena grounded out
to first. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 6TH: R Ibanez lined out to second. J Guillen struck out swinging.
B Broussard grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7,
SEATTLE 1.

TAMPA BAY 7TH: B Upton singled to center. B Upton caught stealing second,
pitcher to first. D Young struck out swinging. J Gomes struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 7TH: G Balfour relieved J Hammel. J Vidro walked. K Johjima struck
out looking. J Vidro to second on passed ball by R Casanova. W Bloomquist
walked. Y Betancourt hit a ground rule double to deep right, J Vidro scored,
W Bloomquist to third. I Suzuki singled to left, W Bloomquist scored,
Y Betancourt to third. S Dohmann relieved G Balfour. A Beltre grounded into
double play, shortstop to second to first, I Suzuki out at second.(2 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 3.

TAMPA BAY 8TH: R Casanova struck out swinging. J Guzman struck out
swinging. J Velandia struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 3.

SEATTLE 8TH: R Ibanez walked. J Guillen walked, R Ibanez to second.
D Wheeler relieved S Dohmann. B Broussard singled to center, R Ibanez to third,
J Guillen to second. J Vidro grounded into double play, second to first,
R Ibanez scored, B Broussard out at second, J Guillen to third. K Johjima singled
to right center, J Guillen scored. J Reed hit for W Bloomquist. J Reed singled
to right, K Johjima to second. J Lopez ran for K Johjima. Y Betancourt doubled
to deep left, J Lopez and J Reed scored. I Suzuki intentionally walked.
A Beltre singled to left, Y Betancourt scored, I Suzuki to second. R Ibanez
struck out swinging. (5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 8.

TAMPA BAY 9TH: J Burke catching. J Lopez at second base. A Jones in left
field. J Putz relieved R Rowland-Smith. B Harris flied out to center. G Norton
grounded out to third. C Pena struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
TAMPA BAY 7, SEATTLE 8.</div>

 

Beltre, Betancourt cap comeback as Mariners down Devil Rays

<h3>SEATTLE 8, TAMPA BAY 7</h3>SEATTLE (Ticker) -- If the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have provenanything in the last three days, it's that nothing beats aquality bullpen. Just ask the Seattle Mariners.


The Mariners scored five runs in the eighth inning to cap asix-run comeback and earn an 8-7 victory over the Devil Rays onThursday night.


Yuniesky Betancourt tied the contest with a two-run double andAdrian Beltre drove him in to score the game-winner for Seattle(76-68), which pulled back within 5 1/2 games of the New YorkYankees (83-63) in the American League wild card race.

The Mariners' bullpen was forced to work overtime after starterJeff Weaver lasted just 1 1/3 innings. Sean White, RyanRowland-Smith (1-0) and J.J. Putz combined to allow two runs in7 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven.

Putz earned his 38th save with a perfect ninth inning.

Thursday marked the third night in a row that the Devil Rays'bullpen had blown the lead. Tampa Bay held an 8-1 lead on theRed Sox on Tuesday before losing, 16-10, and suffered a walk-offloss to Boston on Wednesday when closer Al Reyes surrendered ahomer to David Ortiz in the bottom of the ninth.


It was newcomer Dan Wheeler's turn to play the goat Thursday, asthe veteran righthander yielded three runs in the eighthinning. Wheeler (1-8) is now 0-4 with Tampa Bay since comingover from Houston at the trading deadline.


Seattle was down, 5-0, when Ichiro Suzuki drove in the Mariners'first run of the game with a single in the fifth. After theDevil Rays answered with two more in the sixth, Betancourt andIchiro got those runs back with an RBI double and a run-scoringsingle, respectively, in the seventh.


Tampa Bay reliever Shane Dohmann walked the first two batter hefaced in the eighth before being replaced by Wheeler, whosurrendered a single to Ben Broussard that loaded the bases.Wheeler then got Jose Vidro to ground into a double play, butRaul Ibanez scored from third to cut the lead to 7-4.

Kenji Johjima came up next and singled in a run, and Jeremy Reedfollowed with a single to put runners on first and second forBetancourt, who drove a deep fly ball off the left fieldscoreboard, scoring both runs and tying the contest at 7-7.

After Wheeler intentionally walked Ichiro, Beltre put theMariners on top to stay, 8-7.


The bullpen's struggles erased a stellar effort from Devil Raysstarter Jason Hammel, who allowed one run and five hits whilestriking out six and not issuing a walk over six innings.

It was the third straight strong outing for the 25-year-oldrighthander.

 

Beltre, Betancourt cap comeback as Mariners down Devil Rays

<h3>SEATTLE 8, TAMPA BAY 7</h3>SEATTLE (Ticker) -- If the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have provenanything in the last three days, it's that nothing beats aquality bullpen. Just ask the Seattle Mariners.


The Mariners scored five runs in the eighth inning to cap asix-run comeback and earn an 8-7 victory over the Devil Rays onThursday night.


Yuniesky Betancourt tied the contest with a two-run double andAdrian Beltre drove him in to score the game-winner for Seattle(76-68), which pulled back within 5 1/2 games of the New YorkYankees (83-63) in the American League wild card race.

The Mariners' bullpen was forced to work overtime after starterJeff Weaver lasted just 1 1/3 innings. Sean White, RyanRowland-Smith (1-0) and J.J. Putz combined to allow two runs in7 2/3 innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven. Itwas the first major league win for the Australian-bornRowland-Smith.


Putz earned his 38th save, and first since August 24, with aperfect ninth inning.


"These guys got mad," Mariners manager John McLaren said abouthis team's 41st comeback victory of the year. "We got behind,5-0, and they got mad. I think it is the veterans that pusheverybody. They won't let anybody quit. You can hear them atthe end of the bench.


"We've been behind before and we've come back. But wedefinitely need our starters to do better."


Thursday marked the third night in a row that the Devil Rays'bullpen had blown the lead. Tampa Bay held an 8-1 lead on theRed Sox on Tuesday before losing, 16-10, and suffered a walk-offloss to Boston on Wednesday when closer Al Reyes surrendered ahomer to David Ortiz in the bottom of the ninth.


"The last three games have been cut out of the same cloth,"Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "We've had three games in arow that we should have won but did not.


"The guys on the field today did a great job. We scored plentyof runs to win today, plenty of runs, and we should have won."

It was newcomer Dan Wheeler's turn to play the goat Thursday, asthe veteran righthander yielded three runs in the eighthinning. Wheeler (1-8) is now 0-4 with Tampa Bay since comingover from Houston at the trading deadline.


Seattle was down, 5-0, when Ichiro Suzuki drove in the Mariners'first run of the game with a single in the fifth. After theDevil Rays answered with two more in the sixth, Betancourt andIchiro got those runs back with an RBI double and a run-scoringsingle, respectively, in the seventh.


Tampa Bay reliever Scott Dohmann walked the first two batters hefaced in the eighth before being replaced by Wheeler, whosurrendered a single to Ben Broussard that loaded the bases.Wheeler then got Jose Vidro to ground into a double play, butRaul Ibanez scored from third to cut the lead to 7-4.

Kenji Johjima came up next and singled in a run, and Jeremy Reedfollowed with a single to put runners on first and second forBetancourt, who drove a deep fly ball off the left fieldscoreboard, scoring both runs and tying the contest at 7-7.

"You always go up to the plate with the same mentality, butyesterday's game really helped out confidence-wise," saidBetancourt, who delivered the game-winning single Wednesdaynight as well and is hitting .319 since the All-Star break.

After Wheeler intentionally walked Ichiro, Beltre put theMariners on top to stay, 8-7.


The bullpen's struggles erased a stellar effort from Devil Raysstarter Jason Hammel, who allowed one run and five hits whilestriking out six and not issuing a walk over six innings.

It was the third straight strong outing for the 25-year-oldRighthander from nearby Port Orchard, Washington.


"These things happen," said Hammel, who was playing in front ofsome 30 friends and family. "We played a good game for six orseven innings, then had a couple of mishaps and sometimes theycan hurt you as you saw tonight."