Recap: Seattle vs. Oakland
Sports Network | September 27, 2008
Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Kenji Johjima hit a three-run homer as part of a six-run first, helping the Seattle Mariners to a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics in the second of three games at Safeco Field.
Ryan Rowland-Smith (5-3) allowed three runs on nine hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings, with five strikeouts, to earn the win. Sean Green shut out the Athletics for the final 2 1/3 innings to earn his first career save.
Yuniesky Betancourt went 3-for-3 and scored twice while Miguel Cairo and Wladimir Balentien each drove in two runs for Seattle, which has won two straight for the first time since August 31-September 1.
Greg Smith (7-16) struggled for Oakland, surrendering six runs -- five earned -- and five hits while walking two and striking out three to take the loss.
Cliff Pennington and Travis Buck each had two hits and an RBI for Oakland, which has lost four straight.
Seattle got on the board in the first, loading the bases with nobody out on a couple of singles and an error. Two batters later Cairo drew a walk and Balentien followed with a two-run single. With runners still on the corners, Johjima blasted a three-run homer for a 6-0 cushion.
Daric Barton led off the Oakland second with a double and scored on a two-out single by Pennington.
Pennington doubled with two outs in the fourth, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Buck's bunt single, cutting the deficit to four.
Oakland cut into the lead again in the seventh. Kurt Suzuki hit a two-out double and Jack Cust scored him with a single to left-center. Green was brought on in relief of Rowland-Smith and retired Chris Denorfia on a grounder to keep the score 6-3.
Seattle padded its lead in the eighth off Brad Ziegler. Betancourt led off with a single and one out later Jose Lopez doubled him over to third. Cairo drove in his second run of the day with a single to left, plating Betancourt.
Oakland still leads the season series 10-7...Green is the 10th Mariners player to earn a save this season, tying a club record set in 1985...Oakland left nine on base while the Mariners left only two.
