Seattle Rolls to Keep Lead in the West

They’re scoring runs in bunches and getting efficient performances from both their starters and the bullpen.

Everything seems to be working for the Seattle Mariners, who refuse to loosen their tenuous grasp on first place in the American League West.

Jamie Moyer gave up three hits in seven innings to earn his 11th consecutive victory against the Baltimore Orioles, and Dan Wilson homered in a seven-run fifth inning as the Mariners cruised to a 14-0 win Saturday night at Baltimore.

Alex Rodriguez and David Bell also homered for the Mariners, whose fourth consecutive victory kept them two games ahead of the second-place Oakland Athletics in the American League West. The A’s remained one game back in the loss column by beating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 5-2.

Moyer (13-9) walked three and struck out three in winning his second consecutive start after an 0-6 stretch. The left-hander is 11-1 against his former team, his only loss coming on May 30, 1989, as a member of the Texas Rangers.

“There are teams you pitch well against and teams you don’t pitch well against. There’s hitters you pitch well against and hitters you don’t pitch well against,” Moyer said. “I don’t know why. I can’t explain it.”

Oakland 5, Tampa Bay 2--Tim Hudson won his fourth consecutive start as the A’s won at St. Petersburg, Fla., to move into a virtual tie for the American League wild-card spot.

The Athletics won for the 10th time in 13 games, catching up to the Cleveland Indians in the race for the fourth playoff slot.

Boston 8-2, Detroit 5-12--Juan Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Billy McMillon a two-run triple in the second to help the Tigers salvage a split at Detroit.

In the opener, Carl Everett hit a tiebreaking RBI single and Nomar Garciaparra followed with a two-run single in the ninth to lift the Red Sox.

Steve Ontiveros’ first major league appearance since 1995 lasted only 10 batters in one-plus innings in the nightcap. The 39-year-old right-hander (0-1), who had Tommy John surgery twice on his elbow, gave up six runs, five hits and two walks.

New York 6, Cleveland 3--Orlando Hernandez breezed in pitching a four-hitter and Luis Sojo, part of Manager Joe Torre’s patchwork lineup, drove in three runs for the Yankees at New York.

A day after their 11-1 romp, the Indians looked feeble against El Duque, who retired the first 14 batters.

Glenallen Hill and Jorge Posada hit solo home runs before a sellout crowd of 55,097.

Chicago 6, Toronto 3--Toronto pitcher Chris Carpenter was hit in the right cheek by a line drive and, bleeding from the face, taken off the field on a stretcher at Chicago.

Carpenter, struck by Jose Valentin’s liner in the eighth inning, sustained no apparent eye damage, according to a Blue Jay spokesman.

X-rays taken at Comiskey Park did not reveal any fractures, though there was heavy swelling.

Kansas City 8, Texas 5--Brian Meadows won his fourth consecutive start and Jermaine Dye hit his 33rd homer as the Royals won at Arlington, Texas.

Meadows, 6-2 with the Royals since he was acquired from the San Diego Padres on July 31, pitched into the eighth inning before Gabe Kapler hit the 100th pitch he threw for a three-run homer.

Before the three runs in the eighth, only two Texas runners had past second base against Meadows. Frank Catalanotto beat out an infield single and Royce Clayton doubled to set up Kapler’s 13th homer.

Meadows gave up eight hits and four runs over 7 2/3 innings. He struck out one with no walks.