Padres Stay Hot Behind Hitchcock

Sterling Hitchcock pitched seven shutout innings Friday night and the surging San Diego Padres beat the Seattle Mariners, 2-1, in the Mariners’ first indoor game at Safeco Field.

The retractable roof on the new $517.6-million stadium was closed because it was raining. In the Padres’ 3-2 victory in the Safeco opener Thursday night, the roof stayed open.

Hitchcock (9-6) won his fifth consecutive start as the Padres won for the 20th time in 25 games. He gave up six hits, walked none and struck out seven to hand the Mariners their seventh loss in a row.

The Mariners, who lead the major leagues with 151 home runs, failed to get a ball out of their new stadium for the second night in a row. In fact, the Mariners have hit the wall only once in two games at Safeco.

Jeff Fassero (4-10), who leads the majors with 28 homers surrendered, didn’t give up a homer, but lost for the fourth time in his last five decisions despite giving up only two runs, six hits and six walks in 6 2/3 innings.

In winning their fourth in a row, the Padres scored their first run in the sixth on consecutive doubles by Ruben Rivera and George Arias with two out. Rivera doubled into the left-field corner and Arias followed with his double off the left-field scoreboard about 350 feet from home plate.

In the seventh, Eric Owens singled, Reggie Sanders walked and Phil Nevin singled in Owens from second for San Diego’s second run.

Hitchcock was aided by center fielder Rivera, who caught up to Dan Wilson’s line drive on the warning track in center for the final out of the seventh. It saved a run because Russ Davis was on second after a double.

The Mariners scored their run against Donne Wall in the eighth. David Segui got aboard on a fielder’s choice groundout, went to second on Ken Griffey Jr.’s single and scored on Edgar Martinez’s single.

Trevor Hoffman got the final four outs for his 22nd save in 25 chances.