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  Saturday, Jun. 10 4:05pm ET
Abbott doubles in first career at-bat
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Paul Abbott is not letting his first big league hit go to his head. That said, it still fulfilled a lifetime ambition, and getting the win made it even better.

Abbott pitched 7 2/3 innings and doubled in his first career big league at-bat, and Rickey Henderson homered as the Seattle Mariners beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 Saturday.

"I've dreamed of that at-bat since I was 8-years-old," said Abbott, who has spent his career with American League teams, splitting time between relieving and starting. "When I was growing up, all I wanted to do was hit. It was nice to get that opportunity.

"I've kept trying to tell people that I can hit. Now I'm going to tell 'em, 'Read the box score, baby!' "

Abbott (3-2) gave up one run and four hits while striking out four, helping the Mariners win in San Francisco for just the second time in seven games. He also scored on a bases-loaded groundout after getting his first career hit in the third. He said he'll keep the ball as a treasured momento.

"It's been 15 years since I've hit in high school and as much fun as it is, I can't take it too seriously," Abbott added. "I've seen guys get their first hit and keep the ball so as soon as I got to second, I yelled, 'I need the ball! I need the ball!' "

Abbott said having to hit meant interrupting his between-innings routine but he didn't mind.

"Suddenly, you have to get your helmet and get ready to hit, but that part was enjoyable today," he said.

San Francisco manager Dusty Baker was more impressed with Abbott's pitching.

"He had good stuff, a sneaky fastball, and he spotted the ball well," Baker said. "Only one guy on the team had seen him before, and that was Ellis Burks."

Burks had two of San Francisco's hits off him.

Seattle manager Lou Piniella said Abbott has done everything he's been asked. Abbott has shuttled between long relief and the rotation over the last two years.

He had only one walk in his longest outing of the season.

"Control is the name of the game," Abbott said. "I got ahead with first-pitch strikes. It was rewarding to go out there without my best stuff. The change-up has been my bread and butter but I haven't had a good one the last couple times out. It forced me to change the way I pitch."

Henderson, who also had one of Seattle's season-high four stolen bases, connected for his fourth homer since joining the Mariners on May 17 following his release by the New York Mets. He drove an eighth-inning pitch from reliever John Johnstone into the left-field seats to up Seattle's lead.

Shawn Estes (5-3) kept missing the strike zone and matched his season-high with six walks. He allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in taking his first loss at Pacific Bell Park after opening 4-0 with an 0.84 ERA in four previous outings at the Giants' new bayside stadium.

"I never really got in a good rhythm," Estes said. "I never really had an easy inning. I didn't go 1-2-3 all game. I was playing with fire and it caught up to me."

Seattle was leading 2-1 when control problems by San Francisco pitchers allowed the Mariners to score two runs without a hit.

Estes, laboring throughout his start, issued a one-out walk to Mark McLemore and after fanning Abbott, walked Henderson and David Bell to load the bases. That was enough for Baker, who pulled Estes in favor of Johnstone.

But the first batter Johnstone faced, Alex Rodriguez, was hit by a pitch, forcing home a run. Jay Buhner then walked to bring him another run before Johnstone induced John Olerud to groundout.

Estes dodged trouble earlier in the game with the aid of two double plays but the Mariners still got a run on Buhner's third-inning groundout and another on Henderson's RBI single in the fourth.

San Francisco scored in the fourth after Barry Bonds tripled and came home on Jeff Kent's sacrifice fly.

Bonds doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by J.T. Snow in the ninth.

Game notes
Henderson has stolen a base in 41 stadiums. ... Seattle's four steals were the most allowed by the Giants this season. ... OF Terrell Lowery, designated for assignment by the Giants earlier this week, cleared waivers and on Saturday accepted an outright assignment to San Francisco's Triple-A affiliate in Fresno. ... Estes also had six walks in his first start of the season April 19, a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati. ... The Mariners improved to 5-3 against NL teams this season after going 7-11 in interleague play last year. ... The Giants are 10-13 over the last two seasons against AL West teams.

 


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