Mariners 2, Braves 0
Hisashi Iwakuma scattered six hits over seven strong innings as visiting Seattle completed a two-game sweep of Atlanta and extended its winning streak to five.
Cole Gillespie had a pair of hits and knocked in a run while Stefen Romero added a triple and a single for the Mariners, who notched their third shutout of the season. Iwakuma (4-2), who lost his previous two starts, struck out seven and did not walk a batter while throwing 96 pitches – 71 for strikes.
Jason Heyward recorded two singles for the Braves, who fell to 0-6 in interleague play and lost for the sixth time in nine games. Atlanta starter Mike Minor (2-4) was the tough-luck loser, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings with a season-high 10 strikeouts.
Robinson Cano and Romero singled to begin the fourth inning before Gillespie lined a 3-2 fastball into left field with two outs to give Seattle a 1-0 lead. Heyward’s single to lead off the sixth ended a string of 12 straight retired by Iwakuma, who faced only three more batters to end the threat.
Romero tripled to the right-center field gap off reliever Luis Avilan with one out in the eighth and pinch runner James Jones scored on Kyle Seager’s single to right for a 2-0 edge. Yoervis Medina retired Atlanta in order in the eighth inning and Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 16th save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Seattle 1B Justin Smoak was held out of the starting lineup with a sore quad, but flied out as a pinch hitter and came on as a defensive replacement in the ninth. … Atlanta 2B Tommy La Stella registered a single in three at-bats and has hit safely in five of his first seven major league games, going 9-for-22. … The Braves begin a seven-game road trip at Arizona and the Mariners start a four-game set at Tampa Bay on Friday.