By Larry LaRue
The News Tribune
OAKLAND, Calif. – They told Ichiro Suzuki not to change his approach just because he was batting third instead of first and he didn’t – bunting in the seventh inning to push his hitting streak to 12 consecutive games.
And the Seattle Mariners told Freddy Garcia not to change, either. Forget all those solo home runs. Just go out there and pitch.
It was combination of small ball and pitching that won the night Monday, and a game from the Oakland Athletics, 4-1.
Yes, Garcia gave up his usual solo home run, and that’s 13 if you’re counting. And yes, Ichiro got yet another infield single, his 29th this season. He later added a 30th.
More important was just what Seattle’s 36th victory of the year did for them in the American League West, where the game pushed the Oakland Athletics two games below .500.
“You don’t have must-series in June,” Oakland manager Art Howe said, “but you hate to miss any opportunity to pick up ground on the team you’re chasing.”
Manager Lou Piniella said much the same thing.
“Games within your division are always a little more important,” he said, “but there’s four months of baseball left.”
And the Mariners aren’t yet where they expect themselves to be.
“It’s strange, because the last month or so we haven’t been that consistent as a team,” Jeff Cirillo said. “And you look up and we’re 16 games over .500? We can play better.”
With the long ball not part of their attack Monday, the Mariners went back to the basics and manufactured what they needed.
Against A’s rookie Aaron Harang, they seemed to have no choice. After four innings, the big kid had allowed just two hits and shutout the Mariners. No problem – Garcia matched him zero for zero and then beyond.
“Our bullpen was a little used up, so we needed some innings from Freddy,” Piniella said. “He gave us the game we had to have.”
Waiting for his offense, Garcia simply bottled up the Athletics en route to his seventh win, taking a shutout into the eighth inning before giving up the 15th home run he’s allowed in 13 starts.
By that time, about all John Mabry’s blast did was steal Garcia’s shutout.
“A 3-2 pitch with a four-run lead,” Piniella said of the home run.
What the Mariners did to Harang was use an Ichiro-like attack – an offense that was more irritating than formidable. But it worked.
Ruben Sierra singled to lead off the fifth inning and Desi Relaford walked. Everyone in Network Coliseum knew what was coming next – a Dan Wilson bunt – but rookie Harang fielded the ball and threw late to third base.
Bases loaded, nobody out.
Cirillo flied deep to right field, Sierra trotted home and Seattle had a lead. Mark McLemore grounded a single into right field and the Mariners were up 2-0.
An inning later, the Mariners used even smaller ball – scoring a run on just one hit. John Olerud doubled, trotted to third base on a Harang wild pitch and scored on a Sierra ground ball.
In the seventh, they were back at it. Cirillo beat out an infield single.
Mike Cameron, who struck out his first three at-bats, lined one off the wall in left center field for an RBI double and Ichiro dropped that perfect bunt. It was his seventh bunt single of the season.
“Ichiro’s not going to hit third permanently, but he’s going to hit third as long as we keep winning,” Piniella said, laughing. “He’s batted third two games, we’ve got two wins and he’s got six hits.”
Bret Boone was asked if he thought the change had surprised Ichiro.
“He doesn’t care where he hits, he doesn’t care who he hits against or what park we’re in,” Boone said. “Ichiro hits, period.”
“He’s fun to watch,” Piniella said of his outfielder, who is now hitting .376.
When Garcia tired after 99 pitches, Arthur Rhodes got one out in the eighth inning and the Mariners went to Kazuhiro Sasaki for the ninth, and he produced his 13th save.
“You get excellent defense, great pitching and scratch out a few runs, this game looks easy,” Piniella said. “It’s not.”
“I’m not even sure Freddy’s pitching his best yet, and he’s got seven wins,” Cirillo said. “He can dominate a game, dominate a team. He’s our horse, but I think as the weather heats up he’ll get even better.”
The win gave the Mariners a 3-0 record in Oakland this season, a city they have rarely enjoyed. Coming into the series, Seattle’s winning percentage here was .394 (128-197) – it’s lowest against in any park in the majors.
“When you play better, you win more,” Piniella said. “You catch the ball, you pitch like Freddy did, you put yourself in position to win games.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
