Mariner Bullpen Stops Brewer Rally

Milwaukee caught Seattle’s Randy Johnson on an off day, but the Mariners’ beefed-up bullpen, which includes new closer Heathcliff Slocumb, was able to hold off the Brewers.

Slocumb got his first save for Seattle, and 18th this season, when he held on in the ninth inning to preserve the Mariners’ 6-5 victory over the Brewers.

Acquired by the Mariners Thursday in a trade with Boston to shore up a shaky bullpen, Slocumb took over to start the ninth and struck out three. He worked around a one-out walk to Jesse Levis and an infield single by Mark Loretta before striking out Jose Valentin and Jeff Cirillo to end the game.

Slocumb pitched one scoreless inning Saturday in his Seattle debut.

On Sunday, Mike Timlin, obtained Thursday in a trade with Toronto, relieved Johnson (15-3) to start the seventh. He gave up a two-run, pinch-hit homer in the eighth to Jeromy Burnitz that pulled the Brewers within 6-5.

“We’ve added some depth and some experience and some good arms to our bullpen. We feel better,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said of the trades for Slocumb, Timlin and Paul Spoljaric. “We’re going to have a much better situation coming up out of the ‘pen.”

Seattle finished 7-5 on its longest trip of the season.