SEATTLE (AP) _ It's June and the Chicago White Sox, baseball's biggest surprise of 2000, are still in first place in the AL Central, ahead of perennial powerhouse Cleveland.

``You're asking the wrong guy how it feels to be in first place in June,'' said Cal Eldred, who survived a four-walk first inning in the White Sox's 4-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

``We're being very level-headed about where we're at,'' said White Sox closer Keith Foulke, one of the team's many heroes in the first two months of the season. ``Nobody is talking about October yet.''

Eldred, who pitched without any team success in the 1990s in Milwaukee, tied his career high with seven walks in 5 2-3 innings. And the White Sox still won, thanks to key hits in the late innings by pinch-hitter Brook Fordyce and Herbert Perry.

The Mariners stranded a season-high 15 runners as the White Sox took two out of three at Safeco Field, all one-run games against Seattle. Not bad for a team with a $31 million payroll, giving away $45 million to the high-spending Indians.

``That's a testament to this ballclub,'' Eldred said. ``It's not the same person every day. A day like today when I didn't have my right stuff and we came back to win the game.''

In the ninth, the White Sox took advantage of the Mariners' season-worst third error of the game. Carlos Lee reached second with one out in the ninth when third baseman John Mabry allowed the ball to go under his glove for a two-base error. Perry followed with a ground-rule double to right off Kazuhiro Sazaki (1-4).

Bob Howry (1-1) pitched 1 2-3 hitless innings and Foulke, Chicago's fifth pitcher, got three outs for his 10th save in 11 opportunities. Foulke, who pitched two innings in a 2-1 victory Tuesday night, has allowed one earned run in his last 25 innings and has a 0.79 ERA for the season.

``I think you call it experience,'' said Foulke, 27, who came to the White Sox in July 1997 in the trade that sent Roberto Hernandez to San Francisco. ``I'm concentrating on every pitch now.''

Seattle's Aaron Sele allowed three runs and three hits in 6 1-3 innings. Eldred gave up three runs and five hits in addition to his seven walks. He struck out nine.

``That was definitely not the way to start a game,'' Eldred said. ``It puts a big smile on your face when you start out like that and you win a game. It seems like we don't win the same way necessarily every time and that's a good sign.''

Chicago manager Jerry Manuel missed the game to attend son Anthony's high school graduation in Chicago and bench coach Joe Nossek managed in his place.

Manuel will rejoin the White Sox when they open a series Friday night in Houston.

The Mariners came within one of tying their team record of 16 men left on base.

``We played like dogs today,'' Alex Rodriguez said. ``We were lucky to win one in this series the way we played.''

Notes: Seattle LHP Jamie Moyer, placed on the DL on April 21 because of a strained muscle in the back of his left shoulder, will be on a pitch count when he returns Friday night against San Diego. Trainer Rick Griffin said Wednesday he expects Moyer to be held to 85-90 pitches. Moyer, 37, has been on the DL three times in his major league career. The Mariners have two other starting pitchers on the DL; RHPs Freddy Garcia (fractured right tibia) and Gil Meche (strained right shoulder). ... Martinez hit .441 in May (45-for-102) with 10 home runs, 32 RBIs and 24 runs scored.