Thursday, June 06, 2002
Mariners 5, Athletics 0
The Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. — Jamie Moyer loves pitching in Oakland. The Athletics rarely enjoy his visits. Moyer pitched four-hit ball for eight innings, and Ruben Sierra had three hits to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 5-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.
“I just throw right at people and let the defense do the work,” Moyer said. “We don't beat ourselves on defense, and that gives you peace of mind.”
Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a single in the seventh inning, and Dan Wilson added two hits and an RBI for AL West-leading Seattle, which won for only the seventh time in 16 games.
Moyer (5-2) struck out three and walked one, and Arthur Rhodes pitched a perfect ninth. The A's did not get a hit after Olmedo Saenz's single in the fourth.
“He's one of the few pitchers who makes you make adjustments to him,” Oakland's Eric Chavez said of Moyer. “He knows how to handle hitters.”
Moyer improved to 8-3 career in Oakland. He has more wins only in Seattle and Baltimore, where he spent most of his AL career.
“When he gets in synch and throws strikes, he makes it look relatively easy,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. “He pitched inside, he pitched away, he changed speeds and maintained a good pitch count.”
Moyer was helped by some terrific defense, most notably a running catch on the warning track by Suzuki in right field on a ball hit by Miguel Tejada to lead off the sixth.
“He flat outran that ball,” Oakland manager Art Howe said. “He's probably the only outfielder who could make that play.”
Seattle has won five of eight against Oakland this season.
“The defense couldn't be better,” Piniella said. “Not only Ichiro, but (Bret Boone), (Jeff) Cirillo and Ruben all made nice plays.”
Cory Lidle (1-6) dropped his third straight decision as the A's lost for just the fourth time in 12 games. He gave up four runs on nine hits over 6 2-3 innings.
“Lidle did everything he could to keep us in the game,” Howe said. “Tonight one run would have been enough for Moyer.”
Mike Cameron's broken-bat single in the second scored John Olerud with Seattle's first run. Wilson added an RBI single.
The Mariners added a pair of runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Sierra and Desi Relaford. Boone added an RBI single in the ninth.
“We got some hits when we needed them and Jamie pitched great,” Boone said. “We also made the plays on defense.”
Randy Velarde led off the first with a single and went to third on Tejada's one-out double. But Moyer struck out David Justice and got Jermaine Dye on a groundout to end the threat.
Velarde was the only Oakland batter to advance beyond second.
Notes: The Mariners placed OF Chris Snelling on the 60-day disabled list with a knee injury. OF Eugene Kingsale was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma to take Snelling's place. ... The A's used their 23rd different starting lineup in the past 23 games, and 43rd overall. ... Lidle's only win came April 26 against the Chicago White Sox. ... The Mariners have hit into at least one double play in their past nine games. ... Moyer's 14 career wins against the A's are his most against any team. ... Wilson is a career .545 (6-for-11) hitter against Lidle. ... The A's are 1-14 when they don't hit a home run. ... A man wearing an American flag as a cape, and shorts, interrupted play during the bottom of the third inning by running across the outfield from right to left. He was taken from the field in handcuffs.
Reds Stories
McElroy needs to score at draft camp
Huggins lunches with Nuggets GM
Golf Course Spotlight: Otter Creek
Lakers 99, Nets 94
O'Neal proves mountainous obstacle
Nets' slow start costly
Carolina's Irbe stands up to Stanley Cup pressure
Next for U.S. team: South Korea
U.S. - Portugal photo gallery
Sollmann sets NCAA baseball records
OSU's Sylvester breaks hand
UK search for AD hits full speed
Longest day for War Emblem
Coming up this week
DAUGHERTY: Madeira baseball star overcomes tragic crash
Madeira wakes up to possibilities
Sycamore, Hamilton hope for state softball showdown
Ex-Red Bair helping Milford
Ohio Softball Tourney Schedule
Ohio Baseball Tourney Schedule
Ohio Track Championships Schedule
Norwood hires Highlands coach
CovCath resumes with 3-0 lead
N.Ky. football all-star game tonight
• Return to Reds front page...
Mariners 5, Athletics 0
