Mariners 3, Twins 2
John Jaso hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Michael Saunders in the bottom of the ninth to give host Seattle its fourth consecutive victory.
Jaso lifted a fly ball inside the left-field line for the inning’s first out and Saunders easily beat the off-line throw from Minnesota left fielder Ryan Doumit to hand the Twins their fourth straight loss.
Saunders led off the ninth with a sharp single to right against Tyler Robertson (1-1). Brendan Ryan sacrificed Saunders to second and reached safely when Twins first baseman Justin Morneau fumbled the ball in his glove before throwing late to first. Dustin Ackley walked to load the bases before Jaso’s fly gave Seattle its 11th win in its last 12 home games.
The Twins had the bases loaded in the top of the ninth but Seattle’s Tom Wilhelmsen (4-2) entered and retired Josh Willingham on a fly to right.
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the first on Morneau’s single to left-center field. Seattle strung together three straight hits in the third, tying the score on Ackley’s single to right.
The Twins loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on three singles and took a 2-1 lead when Joe Mauer reached on a fielder’s choice.
Seattle tied the contest in the bottom of the frame on Justin Smoak’s leadoff homer to left-center field.
Minnesota starter Scott Diamond gave up two and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. Seattle’s Jason Vargas allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Ackley had three hits for the second time in four games and is 8-for-17 during the stretch. … Twins OF Matt Carson had a career-high three hits while playing in his second major-league game since 2010. … Mariners OF Franklin Gutierrez (concussion) began a rehab stint at Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday but it remains unclear when he will return to the majors. … Twins OF Denard Span (shoulder) missed his fifth consecutive contest.