Hot M’s defeat A’s 6-2

  • By Kirby Arnold / Herald Writer
  • Thursday, April 6, 2006 9:00pm
  • Sports

SEATTLE – There’s still a sense of caution over what’s happening with the Seattle Mariners in the first week of the season, but that hasn’t stopped them from feeling good about it.

After a third straight victory, 6-2 Thursday night at Safeco Field over the Oakland A’s, even manager Mike Hargrove is willing to concede this is a changed team.

The Mariners, who finished last in the American League in runs last year, are wearing out home plate in a comparative sense. They’ve scored 26 runs, second in the AL after four games to the Detroit Tigers’ 27.

“We’ve got 158 to play,” Hargrove said. “But it beats the alternative.”

Yes, it’s too early for their offensive numbers to be considered a pattern, but the Mariners’ method is showing their offensive personality.

“Everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do,” Hargrove said. “Guys around our big guys are getting on base and into scoring position, and our big guys are putting the ball in play and coming through. Everybody is doing their jobs offensively.”

Thursday, everyone in the lineup got at least one hit for the second time this season. Carl Everett hit a two-run homer in the second inning, when the Mariners overcame a 1-0 deficit to take a 3-1 lead.

Then they added on.

The M’s scored once in the third when Raul Ibanez tripled and scored on Adrian Beltre’s double-play grounder, once in the fifth on Kenji Johjima’s two-out RBI single and once in the sixth on Richie Sexson’s two-out single.

“Two-out hits to drive in runs are huge,” Hargrove said. “They are momentum killers to the other side.”

Speaking of momentum, look at the standings.

The Mariners have won three straight and sit alone atop the American League West Division for the first time since they won the season opener last year.

Besides the offense, the Mariners pulled off another victory with pitching.

Gil Meche dragged out his new repertoire and pitched well enough to beat the A’s, but labored to get past five innings because of a high pitch count.

Meche mixed more changeups and two-seam fastballs with the four-seam fastballs, curveballs and sliders he’d thrown before.

“It’s probably the least amount of fastballs I’ve ever thrown in a game,” he said.

The A’s didn’t exactly hammer Meche – scoring a run in the first on Marco Scutaro’s high-fly triple to the right-center field gap and one in the sixth when Eric Chavez cleared the wall in right-center with a home run.

All those runs did was trim the Mariners’ lead to 5-2, although Meche’s pitch count had run high. Chavez’s homer came on his 101st, and final, pitch.

“I had 70-some pitches after three and I knew I needed a couple of quick ones to at least be around for the fifth,” Meche said.

He recovered with 1-2-3 fourth and fifth innings.

“On the whole it was a good outing,” Hargrove said. “There were a lot of times when Gil over-threw and cost himself a higher pitch count early. But he seemed to settle down in the third, fourth and fifth, got the ball down and made pitches when he needed to.”

After Chavez’s homer with one out into the sixth inning, Hargrove turned to his bullpen, which had been pounded in the Mariners’ first three games.

This time, the relievers were solid.

Left-hander Jake Woods pitched the next 21/3 innings, allowing a hit and three walks, but didn’t give up a run.

J.J. Putz finished the eighth by getting Jay Payton on a grounder, then he struck out the side in the ninth, blazing a 96 mph fastball past Scutaro to end the game and record his first save.

“There’s a lot of differences with this club than last year,” Hargrove said. “There’s more outward energy. The club last year had energy, but it was more internal. Guys are expressing themselves more openly and there’s a camaraderie here that we didn’t have at all last year. All these are positive things, but I emphasize that it’s still early.”

But, as he also said, it beats the alternative.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje follows through on a pitch during Everett's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 5, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox blanked by Vancouver as losing skid continues

Everett generates just three hits in 3-0 loss to the Canadians on Saturday.

AquaSox infielder Charlie Pagliarini starts to swing at a pitch that he would launch for a two-run home run in Everett's 9-2 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 4, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox lack spark in Independence Day loss to Vancouver

Everett draws eight walks, but has just two hits in 9-2 loss to the Canadians.

Kimberly Beard, a rising senior at King's, stands next to the results board after winning the girls hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Donna Beard)
Beard, Tupua shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The rising seniors make their mark on a national stage amidst a busy summer schedule.

Everett AquaSox shortstop Colt Emerson catches the ball at second base for the first out in a double play during the Opening Day game against the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Emerson’s preparation finally paying off in Everett

The AquaSox shortstop is coming off his best month in High-A. Here’s how it came together:

The Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, right, claps after stealing second base during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Witt Jr. and Mariners’ bullpen both slide, KC wins series

The Kansas City Royals found a way against the Seattle Mariners on… Continue reading

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) tries to drive past Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Storm)
Storm survive Dream on Diggins game-winner

Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combined for 45 points in the 80-79 win.

Julius Miettinen listens to a coach during Kraken Development Camp on-ice session for forwards on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pair of Silvertips check status at Kraken Development Camp

Julius Miettinen hopes to take strides back in Everett, while Kaden Hammell turns pro.

Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with the team trident after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners overcome Perez to beat Royals

The Kansas City Royals found themselves in another close encounter against the… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.