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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SEATTLE (AP) -- After three straight losses knocked them out of
first place, the Seattle Mariners rebounded to beat Oakland and
reclaim the AL West lead.
|  | | Mariners relief pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki celebrated his 35th save of the season on Sunday after the M's defeated Oakland. |
Seattle took an early lead, then hung on as relievers Arthur
Rhodes and Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched 3 2/3 hitless innings and beat
the Athletics 3-2 Sunday in the finale of the big four-game series.
"If we would have gotten swept, we would have been down a game
and then we'd have to rely on somebody else," John Olerud said.
"Today was a game we had to win."
The Mariners (87-69), who had won eight straight before losing
three in a row to Oakland, take a one-game AL West lead into the
final week of the regular season.
"We're trying to a win a division here," manager Lou Piniella
said. "We're not trying to be the wild card."
The A's (85-69), who on Saturday reclaimed the division lead for
the first time since June 28, are still atop the wild card
standings, one game ahead of Cleveland (84-70).
Oakland goes home for four games against Anaheim and three
against Texas, then may have to play a makeup at Tampa Bay on Oct.
2.
"I'm not disappointed with this series by any means," said
Oakland manager Art Howe, who hoped to win three out of four at
Safeco Field. "We're right where we want to be."
After an off-day Monday, Seattle has three games at home against
the Rangers, then finishes with three games at Anaheim.
"We've got two more wins than they (the A's) have," Piniella
said. "That's certainly in our favor."
"Our hitting stunk in this series, starting with me," said
Seattle's Alex Rodriguez, who was 0-for-4 Sunday and 1-for-16 in
the series. "But we won today and every game we win now is
important."
John Halama (13-9) gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3
innings, improving to 9-4 at home.
Rhodes, who got the decision in Saturday's 8-2 loss, struck out
four in two innings, retiring six straight batters.
"To tell you the truth, yesterday was tough," said Rhodes, who
allowed four runs and three hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings
Saturday. "I couldn't be down on myself. I had to prove to myself
that I could bounce back. Today was a fun day."
Sasaki got five outs for his 35th save in 38 chances, allowing
only a two-out walk to Ben Grieve in the eighth and hitting Ramon
Hernandez with a pitch with two outs in the ninth. Terrence Long
then grounded into a game-ending forceout.
"Sure, there was a lot of pressure today," Sasaki said through
a translator. "We couldn't lose. The victory was good. I got a lot
of joy because the win was big. The pressure will continue and
there will be more joy to come."
A's starter Ariel Prieto (1-2) gave up all three runs, six hits
and four walks in five innings.
Seattle built a 3-0 lead on run-scoring singles by Olerud in the
first and Mike Cameron in the second, followed by Carlos Guillen's
leadoff homer in the fourth.
Jason Giambi hit a two-run homer in the sixth, his 39th of the
season, following Randy Velarde's leadoff single. It was Giambi's
fifth home run against Seattle this season.
"Halama is a good breaking ball pitcher," Giambi said. "You
have to really be patient to get a good pitch to hit."
After Halama gave up a one-out single to Ben Grieve and a double
to Adam Piatt, Rhodes came in and struck out Eric Chavez and
pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz.
"He's just nasty," said Chavez, who singled off Rhodes to
drive in the first run in Oakland's six-run seventh inning
Saturday. "Yesterday, he had good stuff, but I didn't think he
would come out here and have better stuff today."
Game notes
Seattle has won six straight one-run games. ... Miguel
Tejada hit cleanup for the second time his season. He hit fourth
Thursday night. ... Halama picked off Piatt at first to end the
fourth, his ninth pickoff of the season. ... Mariners 2B Mark
McLemore turned in the defensive play of the game when he made a
diving stop of Terrence Long's grounder in the fifth and threw him
out. ... The fourth sellout of the series pushed Seattle's
attendance to more than 3 million (3,037,753) for the second time.
The Mariners drew 3,192,237 in 1997. ... Giambi's homer was the
Oakland's 5,000th in 32 years since moving from Kansas City. He
also hit the No. 4,000 on May 17, 1996. ... Sasaki's 35 saves are
one why of the major league record for a rookie set by Todd Worrell
for St. Louis in 1986.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Oakland Clubhouse
Seattle Clubhouse
Lessons from Safeco
RECAPS
Baltimore 1
Boston 0
NY Yankees 6
Detroit 3
Tampa Bay 6
Toronto 0
Kansas City 9
Cleveland 0
Minnesota 6
Chi. White Sox 5
Anaheim 9
Texas 2
Seattle 3
Oakland 2
Cincinnati 4
Houston 3
Atlanta 14
Montreal 5
NY Mets 3
Philadelphia 2
Milwaukee 8
Pittsburgh 5
Chicago Cubs 10
St. Louis 5
Colorado 9
Florida 3
Arizona 8
San Francisco 3
Los Angeles 1
San Diego 0
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's Al Bernstein talks with Seattle's Arthur Rhodes, who retired six straight Oakland batters in relief.
wav: 480 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Alex Rodriguez is happy to see the A's leave town.
wav: 125 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Mike Cameron says the Mariners put themselves back in driver's seat.
wav: 119 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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