Mariners 9, Rays 6
Miguel Olivo’s three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, his third in three days, broke a tie and the Seattle Mariners held on for a 9-6 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays Sunday afternoon.
Adam Kennedy’s RBI single off losing pitcher J.P. Howell (0-1) tied the game 6-6 before Olivo homered off Joel Peralta for the second consecutive day. The victory gave the Mariners their sixth straight series win for the first time since 2001.
Brandon League pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 16th save.
Greg Halman, who had three hits in his 2011 debut, gave the Mariners a 5-3 lead with a two-out, two-run triple in the seventh inning off Rays starter Wade Davis.
Evan Longoria’s pinch-hit, RBI single capped a three-run rally in the top of the eighth inning to give the Rays a 6-5 lead off eventual winning pitcher Jamey Wright (2-2).
Rays catcher Kelly Shoppach, who had gone 14 at bats without a hit, had an RBI double and a single for his first multi-hit game of the season. Johnny Damon had a pair of singles for Tampa Bay to reach base for the 31st straight game, equaling his career best streak established in 2000.
Mariners starter Erik Bedard allowed eight hits and three runs over seven innings, throwing a season-high 111 pitches.
Ichiro Suzuki broke a 0-for-16 slide with a two-run triple for Seattle.