Mariners Blank Mets For Rare Back-To-Back Victory
POSTED: 9:18 pm PDT June 24,
2008
Flushing, NY -- (Sports Network) - R.A. Dickey had a strong performance on the mound and Raul Ibanez drove in three runs, as the Seattle Mariners whipped the weary New York Mets, 11-0, in the middle installment of a three-game interleague set at Shea Stadium.A knuckleball specialist, Dickey (2-3) scattered six hits with five strikeouts and two walks over seven scoreless frames to pick up the win. Dickey came into the game 0-3 with a 13.50 earned run average in three starts this season. Mark Lowe allowed two hits in two innings of relief. "I had a good knuckleball," Dickey said. "I was also able to throw my other pitches for strikes. I think that was a big deal." Kenji Johjima clubbed a two-run homer and finished three hits for the Mariners, who have won consecutive games for the first time since May 27-28 versus Boston. Seattle also won back-to-back road games for the first time since April 16-17 at Oakland. Richie Sexson went 2-for-3 and knocked in three runs, while Jose Lopez went 2-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Oliver Perez (5-5) went five innings and allowed six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits for the Mets, who have dropped three of their last four outings. Claudio Vargas surrendered four runs on five hits in two innings of relief. "I am definitely concerned about his struggles right now," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said of Perez. "We have to seriously address it." Third baseman David Wright was not in the lineup for New York. Wright had played every inning of every game this season before sitting out Tuesday's contest. Fernando Tatis replaced Wright and collected three of the Mets' eight hits. Brian Schneider finished 3-for-4 and Marlon Anderson had two hits. The Mariners loaded the bases with one out in the first on singles by Lopez, Ibanez and a walk to Adrian Beltre. Sexson's sacrifice fly put the visitors on the board. Perez plunked Johjima to open the second and Willie Bloomquist stroked a single to center. Ichiro Suzuki bunted the runners into scoring position after Dickey failed to lay down a bunt. Lopez then punched a grounder that couldn't be handled cleanly by second baseman Luis Castillo. Lopez was credited with an infield single and an RBI, but the bobble allowed the fleet-footed Bloomquist to score for a 3-0 lead. Seattle extended its lead further in the third as Sexson reached on a one-out base hit and came around to score on Johjima's home run, a two-out blast to left field. Ibanez made it a 6-0 game in the fifth with a lead-off blast to right field, and the Mariners tacked on four more runs in the sixth. Vargas started the inning for New York and issued a one-out walk to Bloomquist, who took third on a base hit by Dickey and scored when Suzuki laced a single to right. A walk to Lopez loaded the bases and Ibanez followed with a two-run single. Beltre then reached on an infield hit and Lopez scampered home on Sexson's sac fly for a 10-0 cushion. Sexson added an RBI double in the ninth off Pedro Feliciano. Game Notes Seattle's 15 hits tied a season-high...The Mariners have won seven straight versus the Mets, 7-1 all-time...Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran and Manuel were ejected by home plate umpire Brian Runge in the bottom of the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes. Anderson pinch-hit for Beltran and took over in left field. Trot Nixon moved from left to right and Endy Chavez shifted from right to center...The Mets agreed to a contract with first-round draft pick (18th overall) Ike Davis on Tuesday and assigned the first baseman to Class-A Brooklyn...Seattle Mariners pitcher Erik Bedard (4-4) is expected to miss his scheduled start Wednesday because of back spasms. Miguel Batista (3-9), relegated to the bullpen earlier this month, is scheduled to take Bedard's start, while John Maine (7-5) will take the mound for New York...After the game, New York designated Vargas for assignment and recalled pitcher Carlos Muniz from Triple-A New Orleans.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.










