Wednesday, July 24, 2002
Mariners 4, Rangers 1
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — Jeff Cirillo singled after an error by 10-time Gold Glove catcher Ivan Rodriguez, and John Olerud hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning as the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 4-1 Tuesday night.
With the game tied at 1 and one out, Jeff Cirillo hit a high pop in foul territory in front of the Mariners' dugout. But the ball bounced out of Rodriguez's mitt and Cirillo then singled off Jay Powell (2-2).
“If you get an extra pitch or and extra swing, something good will usually happen to you,” said Cirillo.
Cirillo moved up on a groundout by Ichiro Suzuki and Mike Cameron followed with an infield single. Juan Alvarez relieved to face the left-handed Olerud, who doubled over center fielder Ruben Rivera. Bret Boone singled home Olerud to cap the three-run inning.
“I was surprised,” Cirillo said. “I had already taken two steps toward my dugout before I knew he dropped it.”
Mariners manager Lou Piniella was as surprised as anyone, but he's been around baseball long enough to know that those types of things happen.
“He is as good a catcher as there is in the game,” Piniella said. “It just goes to show that in this business no one is infallible.”
It was the second error of the season for Rodriguez, who has played in 52 games. He missed half of the season because of a herniated disc in his back.
“It was a tough ball to catch,” Rodriguez said. “I normally make that play, but I was a little close to the dugout.”
Arthur Rhodes (6-2) pitched a scoreless eighth. Kazuhiro Sasaki worked the ninth for his 25th save in 29 chances.
Rangers starter Ismael Valdes was sharp against the team he's struggled against the most during his career. His seven losses lifetime to the Mariners are his high against an opponent.
In seven innings, he allowed five hits and one run while striking out three and walking one.
Valdes left the game after throwing only 81 pitches through seven innings. His tendinitis in his left knee flared up and he did not return for the eighth.
“I went as far as I could,” said Valdes, whose injury is not considered serious and will not keep him from making his next start.
“He did a great job for us,” said Rangers manager Jerry Narron. “I was disappointed he couldn't go out for the eighth inning, but I understand why.”
The last time Valdes allowed only one run in a start was April 28 against Cleveland, when he allowed one over six innings. In his last four starts, he is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA.
”(Valdes) is better than his record shows,” Narron said. “We have just not put it together offensively for him when he has pitched. He has done a great job and been very consistent. Sometimes 'quality starts' is an overrated statistic, but not in this case.”
Texas took a 1-0 lead in the first off Jamie Moyer. With two outs, Alex Rodriguez doubled and scored on a single by Juan Gonzalez.
Suzuki led off the Mariners first with a single. Valdes retired the next eight batters before Suzuki connected in the fourth for his fifth home run of the season.
Moyer left the game after seven innings. He allowed four hits, struck out six and walked three.
Notes: The Rangers are 2-11 since the All-Star break and have not won two straight since taking four in a row July 2-5. ... Seattle is 9-1 against Texas this season. ... Suzuki had his major league-leading 45th multihit game. His 142 hits also lead the majors... Before Tuesday's win, the Mariners had lost the first game of each of their first six homestands this season. In those games, Seattle was outscored 35-8 and was shut out three times.
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Mariners 4, Rangers 1 
