Washburn stops A’s with three-hitter

Jarrod Washburn pitched a three-hitter for his third career shutout, outdueling Joe Blanton and leading the Seattle Mariners over the Oakland Athletics, 2-0, Wednesday night.

Washburn (1-2) struck out two and walked two in his first complete game since blanking Texas for the Angels on June 22, 2005. His only other shutout was against the Chicago White Sox on July 7, 2004.

Blanton (2-1) pitched a six-hitter for Oakland but gave up home runs to Jose Guillen and Kenji Johjima. Blanton threw 105 pitches, one more than Washburn.

Washburn was pitching after a rainout Tuesday in Texas pushed his start back a day.

Washburn, who had a 4.42 earned-run average in his previous three starts, retired 15 of his final 18 batters. He allowed only one runner to reach second and matched his low-hit complete game, set against the White Sox on May 8, 2001.

After the first nine Oakland batters were retired, Shannon Stewart singled to open the fourth. Eric Chavez singled with one out and Mike Piazza grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Washburn allowed only three other Oakland batters to reach base after that, on two walks and a ninth-inning single by Stewart.

Blanton struck out six and walked two for his fourth career complete game. He twice got Seattle to ground into inning-ending double plays.

Guillen hit a two-out homer in the second that bounced off the facing of the second deck. Johjima later homered leading off the eighth.

Mariners ace Felix Hernandez threw for 20 minutes before the game and reported no problems. Hernandez, on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, is on track to start May 4 against the Yankees in New York.