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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SEATTLE (AP) -- John Olerud isn't the only player who hasn't seen
this kind of start to a baseball season.
|  | | Bret Boone watches his fly to right reach the Safeco seats for a two-run homer in the third inning. He has 57 RBI, second in the AL. |
Seattle is off to the third-best start in major league history
after winning its franchise record 11th straight game, 8-4 over the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sunday.
Bret Boone homered and drove in three runs for the Mariners
(43-12), who matched the best start in baseball since the 1953 New
York Yankees also won 43 of 55. Only the 1912 New York Giants and
1939 Yankees have started better, going 44-11.
"It's a lot of fun going through a winning streak," Olerud
said. "But I've never been on a team that had it last this long.
It's unbelievable."
Ichiro Suzuki opened the bottom of the third with a single off
Tanyon Sturtze (2-5), stole second, and scored on Boone's 11th
homer of the season as the Mariners took a 2-0 lead.
Boone added a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, giving him 57
RBI on the year.
The Mariners were playing without Edgar Martinez, who is day to
day with a foot injury. Suzuki stepped into the designated hitter
role and produced, going 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored, an
RBI and two stolen bases. Suzuki leads the AL with 20 steals.
"Even without one of our best hitters, we keep winning," said
Boone. "There is always someone else who comes through for us."
Through an interpreter, Suzuki said that he was surprised to
find out he would be the designated hitter.
"It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't want to make a career out of
it," Suzuki said. "I was surprised to be the DH, but I would have
been a lot more surprised if they wanted me to pitch."
Mariners manager Lou Piniella also missed the game. He left for
Tampa, Fla., to join his family following the death of his
father-in-law. Bench coach John McLaren will fill in until Piniella
returns Friday.
"I've been with Lou for 10 years, so there is a lot of Lou in
me," McLaren said. "We remained aggressive, put our runners in
motion, and continued to play well."
Freddy Garcia (6-0) allowed four runs and seven hits over 7 1/3
innings to improve to 4-0 in five starts against the Devil Rays.
"Freddy pitched well and Boone put us up on the board early," McLaren said.
Kazuhiro Sasaki came on with the bases loaded and two outs in
the ninth. He got Greg Vaughn on a foul popup for his major
league-leading 23rd save in 26 chances.
"We were in the game, but were unable to get a clutch base hit
to get us closer," Devil Rays manager Hal McRae said. "We just
didn't swing the bats well enough."
The Devil Rays didn't get a runner past second base until Gerald
Williams' two-out homer in the seventh that cut Seattle's lead to
3-1.
Sturtze allowed three runs, five hits and four walks in six
innings.
"We didn't get the win and I don't feel very good about it," Sturtze said. "I didn't do my job."
The Mariners blew the game open with five runs in the seventh
against reliever Travis Phelps. Mike Cameron had an RBI double and
Carlos Guillen hit a two-run single in the inning.
The Devil Rays chased Garcia in the eighth. Ben Grieve hit an
RBI single and Garcia left the game after walking Vaughn with the
bases loaded to make it 8-3.
Brian Fuentes walked Aubrey Huff to force in another run, but
Jeff Nelson and Arthur Rhodes got out of the jam.
Game notes
The Mariners have swept eight series this season. ... Tampa
Bay lost its eighth straight game to Seattle. ... Williams' homer
was his first on the road this season. ... It's the fourth time the
Devil Rays have had a four-game losing streak this season. ...
Martinez fouled a ball off his left foot Saturday night and X-rays
determined that it was just a bruise and he will be day to day. ...
Boone's homer was the 27th of his Mariners career, the most ever by
Mariners' second baseman.
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OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 4
NY Yankees 3
Boston 5
Toronto 4
Chi. White Sox 9
Detroit 6
Minnesota 6
Texas 3
Anaheim 7
Kansas City 2
Oakland 5
Baltimore 1
Seattle 8
Tampa Bay 4
Montreal 10
Philadelphia 3
Atlanta 11
Pittsburgh 7
Atlanta 8
Pittsburgh 3
(2nd game)
Milwaukee 4
Chicago Cubs 2
Los Angeles 9
Houston 8
Colorado 11
San Francisco 2
Florida 1
NY Mets 0
Arizona 8
San Diego 4
St. Louis 4
Cincinnati 3
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