Seattle Wins, 6-2, and Sets AL Record

The Seattle Mariners won their 115th game to become the winningest team in American League history, passing the record that seemed unbreakable when the New York Yankees set it three years ago.

Jamie Moyer became the oldest first-time 20-game winner, leading Seattle to a 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

With two games to play, the Mariners (115-45) have a chance to break the major league mark of 116 set by the Chicago Cubs in 1906.

After Kazuhiro Sasaki got Rafael Palmeiro to fly out for the final out, the scoreboard at Safeco Field flashed “115 Wins” as the fans gave a standing ovation.

“I said somebody would hit 80 homers before somebody would break the record,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said from St. Petersburg, Fla.

Bret Boone and John Olerud hit home runs as AL West champion Seattle won its fifth in a row.

Moyer, 38, joined Randy Johnson as the only 20-game winners in Mariners’ history. Moyer (20-6) gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings of his final start before pitching Game 2 of Seattle’s playoff series against Cleveland.

The crowd of 45,333--Seattle’s 57th sellout--watched Olerud tie the score by leading off the second with his 21st homer.

Boone capped a three-run third with a two-run homer, his 36th, off Rick Helling (12-11). The homers were the 37th and 38th surrendered by Helling, most in the majors, this season.