Orioles Appreciate Mariner Relief Effort

The Seattle Mariners’ once-dominant bullpen has suddenly become vulnerable, much to the delight of the Baltimore Orioles.

Jay Gibbons singled in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Orioles continued their assault on Seattle’s relievers, beating Kazuhiro Sasaki in a 4-3 victory Saturday night at Baltimore.

Although a throwing error by Sasaki (2-1) contributed heavily to the two-run ninth, one of the runs was earned--the first earned run against the Mariner closer in 21 appearances this season.

It was the third consecutive game in which the Seattle bullpen lost a lead against Baltimore. The Mariners rallied to win the first one but dropped the last two.

“Stuff like that happens to you. It happened to us last year on occasion,” Mariner second baseman Bret Boone said. “It isn’t going to happen often, but it’s going to happen.”

With Seattle leading, 3-2, Gary Matthews Jr. led off the ninth with a single. Chris Singleton bunted, and Sasaki threw wildly to first base, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. After an intentional walk to Jeff Conine, Gibbons grounded a single inside the first-base line.

“These are the kind of wins that do huge things for our club,” Manager Mike Hargrove said. “It’s a positive now and in the long run, because it makes you feel as if you’re always in the game.”

Sasaki somberly spoke after his first loss since Aug. 10.

“My job is to get the save and the win. My throw caused the loss,” he said through an interpreter. “I feel bad right now.”

Seattle Manager Lou Piniella refused to talk to reporters after the Mariners’ eighth loss in 13 games.

Cleveland 8, Chicago 4--Jim Thome’s three-run homer capped a fifth inning in which host Cleveland scored eight unearned runs and the Indians sent the White Sox to their sixth consecutive loss.

Omar Vizquel hit a two-out, two-run single in the fifth for the Indians, who won their third in a row.

Thome’s 15th homer--and fourth in three days--concluded Cleveland’s biggest inning since April 7, 2000, and came after Chicago’s infield made two errors behind starter Todd Ritchie (3-7).

Ritchie, who had defeated the Indians twice this season, lost his fifth consecutive start.

Oakland 8, Tampa Bay 3--Barry Zito struck out 11 at St. Petersburg, Fla., and won his fifth consecutive decision.

Zito (6-2) tied his career high for strikeouts, giving up one run and seven hits in eight innings.

Scott Hatteberg hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, giving the Athletics a 6-1 lead. Hatteberg homered twice at Tropicana Field on Friday night and has four home runs and nine runs batted in against Tampa Bay this season.

Texas 3, Kansas City 1--Kenny Rogers pitched a five-hitter and shut out the Royals until the ninth inning at Arlington, Texas.

Rogers (6-3) struck out six and walked one. He gave up the run when Carlos Febles led off with a double and scored on Mark Sweeney’s groundout.

Toronto 4, Detroit 1--Jose Cruz Jr. singled and scored the go-ahead run, and Darrin Fletcher hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning at Detroit.

Cliff Politte (1-0) didn’t give up a hit and struck out two in 21/3 innings. Kelvim Escobar got his ninth save.

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Plate umpire Steve Rippley was released from a hospital at St. Petersburg, a day after being hit in the left temple by a ball that deflected off Tampa Bay catcher John Flaherty. X-rays showed Rippley has a slight nondisplaced fracture.