Sports

<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) The Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki doubles to right field in the first inning, one of three hits by Suzuki in Seattle's 6-3 victory over the White Sox Sunday at Safeco Field.   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • Seattle Mariners (External Link) • Schedule (External Link) • Stats (External Link)   Related Stories • A brief pause 5/12/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, May 12, 2008 MARINERS: Finally, it's M's turn to win Seattle has 13 hits, including a two-run homer by Raul Ibanez, as the Mariners beat the White Sox 6-3 to snap a five-game losing streak. By Kirby Arnold Herald Writer SEATTLE -- The game can seem so easy sometimes. The Seattle Mariners have been aching for a day when bloops fall in the outfield, bleeders stay fair and they find the right combination of hitting, pitching and defense. After nearly two weeks of painful losses and what's-going-on-here looks on the Mariners' faces, Sunday was their day. They beat the Chicago White Sox 6-3 at Safeco Field, ending a five-game losing streak. It was their second victory in the past 12 games. "This is going to be a battle, and as soon as we can start feeling good about ourselves, then we can take off," manager John McLaren said. "I think we're starting to feel better about ourselves." It's not only because of the ultimate feel-good reason -- a victory -- that McLaren actually was smiling again. For the second straight day, the Mariners' approach at the plate resulted in quality at-bats, 13 hits and six runs. When Raul Ibanez hit a two-run homer into the second deck in right field in the third inning, it put the Mariners ahead 3-2. It was their first lead in six games, when they beat the Rangers 7-3 on Monday to also end a five-game losing streak. Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-4, pulling his batting average up 12 points to .292; Jose Lopez went 3-for-4 and is batting .303; and Yuniesky Betancourt, back in the lineup after being benched Saturday because he'd been swinging wildly and giving away at-bats, went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs with his double in the fourth inning. That gave the M's a 5-2 lead. Even Miguel Cairo, the seldom-used utility player who started his second straight game at first base because of Richie Sexson's suspension, got a hit. His double to right field in the eighth inning gave the Mariners a three-run lead, 6-3, going into the ninth. "The results are what we're all judged by, but the approach is what gives you the results," Ibanez said. "I like the approach that we're showing." It may not be a coincidence that the Mariners have put together better at-bats in the two games following a players-only meeting. That occurred before their game Saturday, when several players expressed that whatever happens, they win or lose together and no part of the team is more responsible than another. "It's not one group. We do this as a team, we pull for each other," Ibanez said. "The focus tends to be on wherever you're struggling, and we all know where that was. It's always good when guys voice how they feel. Now you're conscious of certain things. That meeting was good for us." Mariners starter Miguel Batista, who gave up six runs in 21/3 innings in his last outing, started this one just as poorly but pulled himself out of it. He allowed four hits and two runs in a 17-minute first half inning, when he threw 33 pitches. In the first inning of his past two games, Batista has thrown 77 pitches and needed 41 minutes to get out of it. Batista pitched with multiple runners on base in four of the next five innings but escaped by allowing one more run on Carlos Quentin's single in the sixth. That made the score 5-3 and set up an impressive finish by the Mariners' bullpen. Arthur Rhodes got the final two outs in the sixth, Sean Green pitched a perfect seventh and Brandon Morrow gave up a one-out infield single in the eighth before striking out the next two, including Jim Thome on a 97 mph full-count fastball. J.J. Putz, in his first save opportunity since April 22, pitched around a walk in the ninth to record his third save. "We need to keep building, keep fighting, whatever," McLaren said. "We have a good ballclub. Things haven't gone well, but we believe in ourselves." Read Kirby Arnold's blog on the Mariners at www.heraldnet.com

1. Study backs Paine Field passenger service 2. Boeing Machinists say they're willing to strike 3. Cheers, fears as AM radio towers rise in Snohomish 4. Firefighters battle house fire in Silver Firs area 5. More gain than pain for Everett from Paine Field flights 6. Seattle's Green Lake closed after 50 metal spikes found near shore 7. Local Briefly: Detectives say no signs of injury found on body 8. Vandals cause $12,000 in damage at Evergreen Cemetery 9. Guilty plea in motel death 10. How county residents are dealing with the economy 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Senior housing on way to Lynnwood • Something for everyone • 'Dog'-gone unusual • Ex-employee, blog author sues school district • Everything's coming up Shakespeare • School district budget shows improvement • Christopher's way • 57 years and ticking, washing, drying • Agreement nets Ballinger group $200K • Arlington Fly-In marks 40th anniversary this year • Melody Biringer a wide-ranging entrepreneur • County home market offers low rates, lower prices, wide variety of prope ... • Good investments may be boring but profitable • Fryelands industrial park growing in Monroe • Out of the Blue Aviation expands flight training • Paul Allen’s rare Flying Heritage Collection becomes latest aviation att ... • Warbird's history keeper