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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Paul Abbott got through a fifth-inning crisis and led the Seattle Mariners to a victory over the Texas Rangers.
Abbott pitched seven strong innings and Mike Cameron hit a
two-run homer as the Mariners beat the Rangers 6-3 Saturday night.
Abbott (5-2) allowed one run and seven hits to win his fourth
consecutive decision and improve to 3-0 career against Texas. He
struck out six and walked two in stopping the Rangers' three-game
winning streak.
After Seattle took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth, Texas had
runners at second and third in the bottom of the inning with their
two most dangerous hitters -- Rafael Palmeiro and Ivan Rodriguez -- coming to the plate.
But Abbott struck out both to give the Mariners a big lift.
"They're two of the best hitters in baseball," Abbott said.
"I tried to stay away from their strengths. I tried not to give in
to those guys. It was a turning point. To get through that part of
the lineup unscathed, it gives your team a chance."
Abbott said his ability to mix his changeup with an effective
fastball has contributed to his success against Texas.
"I'm a fastball-changeup guy and they're an aggressive hitting
team so they chase some pitches," Abbott said. "It's funny how
you have success against some teams and not others. Hopefully I can
continue it."
Jose Mesa walked the first two batters in the ninth, and Kazuhiro Sasaki got two outs before walking Palmeiro and Rodriguez
to force in a run, making it 6-3. Sasaki then got David Segui to
hit a foul pop to third for his 16th save.
Sasaki, who allowed a decisive two-run homer to Segui in the
ninth inning of a 7-6 loss at Texas on May 10, said he learned from
the experience.
"This time I wanted to be aggressive," the former Japanese
League star said through an interpreter. "I didn't want to lose to
him again. I wanted to bear down and get him out."
Said manager Lou Piniella: "This should be a confidence booster
for him."
With the score tied 1-1, Rangers rookie Ryan Glynn had two outs
and a runner on first in the fourth when he was forced to leave
with a blister on his right index finger. Rangers manager Johnny
Oates said Glynn will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
"It's extremely frustrating," said Glynn, 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA
in his two other major league starts this season. "I've been
pitching well. I've been keeping the team in games and I felt like
I was going to do that tonight."
Mark Clark (3-5) came on in relief and got out of the fourth,
but the Mariners took a 3-1 lead in the fifth on Stan Javier's
sacrifice fly and Cameron's run-scoring double.
Cameron completed his three-RBI night in the seventh with his
11th homer, a two-run shot off Francisco Cordero. Alex Rodriguez
followed with a single and scored on Edgar Martinez's double to
make it 6-1.
Rodriguez's solo homer off Arthur Rhodes in the eighth reduced
Seattle's lead to 6-2.
Seattle got a run in the first on Martinez's groundout. Texas
tied it at 1 in the third on Rusty Greer's single.
Game notes
Glynn left his previous start on June 24 against Tampa Bay
in the sixth inning with a blister on the same finger. ... The
Rangers' three-game winning streak ended. ... Clark was making his
first appearance since June 16. ... Rhodes had a 13-inning
scoreless streak halted by Rodriguez's homer.
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