CLEVELAND (AP) - Eric Wedge got the lefty-on-lefty matchup that he wanted in the 10th inning, but not the result.

Jason Kipnis belted a two-out, three-run homer off Seattle reliever Lucas Luetge, giving the streaking Cleveland Indians a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Luetge (0-1) left an 0-1 slider over the plate, which fellow left-hander Kipnis hammered 365 feet over the wall in right field.

"I knew it was bad right away," Luetge said of his final pitch. "Sometimes, when the ball leaves your hand, you think, `Oh, man,' but in other words. This was one of those times."

Raul Ibanez had a season-high three hits for Seattle, including a two-run homer in the sixth that tied the game. The Mariners are 11-6 since April 27, but squandered an opportunity to reach .500 for the first time since April 8.

Seattle got six solid innings from starter Brandon Maurer, along with 3 1-3 combined scoreless frames from relievers Charlie Furbush and Carter Capps before Luetge failed to close out the 10th.

"It's unfortunate we lost, but this was a good battle by both sides," said Ibanez, who is 12 for 31 (.387) in the last 10 games. "We've got nothing to hang our heads about. We're playing good baseball and we'll come back ready tomorrow."

Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano (1-0), who was activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, earned the win with one scoreless inning.

Luetge replaced Capps with one out in the 10th and retired Michael Brantley on a grounder, but walked Drew Stubbs to extend the inning. Stubbs broke for second with a 1-2 count on Michael Bourn, and Luetge threw to first baseman Justin Smoak, but Stubbs beat the throw to shortstop Brendan Ryan.

Bourn followed with an infield hit toward second base, setting the stage for Kipnis' heroics.

"I picked Stubbs off, but he was just quicker than we were," Luetge said. "It was a little frustrating with the ball not bouncing our way with Bourn, but if I had gotten the next guy out (Kipnis), none of it would have mattered."

Wedge agreed with his young pitcher, saying, "That was the matchup we wanted, lefty-on-lefty there, but Luetge just spun one up there and they took advantage of it. Lucas has been in these situations before, but tonight just didn't go his way."

Kipnis said of his winning homer, "This was outstanding. This was one of the more fun nights I've had on a baseball field."

Maurer allowed three runs on five hits while tying his career high with six strikeouts. The rookie right-hander gave up a solo homer to Stubbs in the fifth that put Cleveland up 3-1, but he finished strong with a perfect sixth.

"They stacked their lineup with a lot of lefties, quite a bit more than I've seen so far, so I threw a lot of two-seamers, which seemed to work," said Maurer, who is 2-5 with a 5.75 ERA through eight major league starts. "My confidence was a lot better today, and I was glad I made some pitches at the end to come out strong."

Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez was pulled with a 3-1 lead in the sixth after giving up a leadoff single to Justin Smoak. Ibanez promptly greeted Cleveland reliever Rich Hill with a two-run homer to right, tying the score at 3-3.

The Indians took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Jason Giambi's sacrifice fly scored Nick Swisher, and Carlos Santana came home on a Maurer wild pitch.

Designated hitter Kendrys Morales pulled the Mariners within 2-1 in the fourth, when he belted a 429-foot home run into the second deck in right field.

Mariners outfielder Michael Morse, who is batting .600 (9 for 15) in his last four games, was a late scratch with an irritated eye. Endy Chavez took his spot in right field and batted eighth.

Before the game, Seattle selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Danny Farquhar from Triple-A Tacoma to bolster their fatigued relief corps. Farquhar, who was 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 15 relief appearances with the Rainiers, was acquired from the Yankees as part of the Ichiro Suzuki trade on July 23, 2012.

NOTES: Mariners RHP Hector Noesi, who made an emergency start Thursday in place of RHP Aaron Harang (lower back stiffness), was optioned to Tacoma to make room for Farquhar. Noesi allowed one unearned run in 4 1-3 innings as Seattle beat the Yankees 3-2. ... Harang was examined by a chiropractor Friday. Wedge said Harang "feels better and is still set" to make his next start Tuesday at the Angels. ... Mariners RHP Stephen Pryor (torn upper back muscle) was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. Pryor has been on the DL since April 15. ... Seattle OF Franklin Gutierrez (right hamstring) and RHP Josh Kinney (rib stress reaction) are on rehab assignments with Triple A-Tacoma. Gutierrez was placed on the 15-day DL on April 23, while Kinney has not appeared in a game this season. ... Mariners LHP Joe Saunders (3-4) takes on Indians RHP Zach McAllister (3-3) in the second game of the four-game series Saturday.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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Comments (13)


  • Add A Comment

  • Teahawk wrote...
    My favorite is that commercial about how this is the year...
    April 11, 2013 6:01 am
    It's still early, but it doesn't look good.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • rajuseattle wrote...
    Drafted players turn out to be BIG busts.
    April 11, 2013 8:04 am
    MArienrs talent acqusition/scoutign is BOGUS, they traded good talent in some of the wierd trades in baseball and whosoever they acquired in big trades like Smoke, Jesus Motero turn out to be big busts. Same is true in terms of the # 1 drafted players like Ackley and Kyle Seagur. MAriners will be losing more than 100 games once again. Except King Felix noone is givign 100%. Very poor talent on this roster and u will see the stadiums going empty each night except when king felix pitching nights. I am glad i switched off my COmcast cable services. Good bye Baseball from Seattle.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • biggdaddy55 wrote...
    Big Busts?
    April 11, 2013 11:24 am
    I'm guessing that your English class was a big bust as well. Spell check anyone?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • The Live Chicken wrote...
    Rajuseattle
    April 11, 2013 1:02 pm
    Thank you for your completely unoriginal, ill-conceived post with absolutely no rational thought behind it. First, there is absolutely nothing about Jesus Montero that suggests he is, or will be, a bust. He held his own at the plate last season, and there have always been questions about his defensive abilities behind the plate. Second, Smoak was acquired as part of a necessary trade to get SOMETHING for Cliff Lee, else we would have gotten nothing for him, and the market to trade him was extremely small. Third, Kyle Seager was drafted in the third round of the 2009 draft, that is not the #1 pick. Fourth, Michael Saunders has been aggressive on the basebaths, hitting to all sides of the field, and injured his shoulder making a catch in which he crashed into the outfield wall, so how is he not giving 100%? Same can be said for the efforts of Morse, Morales, Ryan, Shoppach, Iwakuma, etc. Fifth, you obviously have not been watching any of the games, else you would know that the attendance of games when Felix pitches are really no different than any other game, save for the Kings Court, and when the fan has incentive to get a free shirt (ie, Last years "Supreme Court", and todays start vs the Ranger where fans once again get a free shirt). SO that tells you all you need to know about some of the fans, who say they are unwilling to pay money to see this team play, UNLESS they get a free shirt!

    In conclusion, not one of your points was even remotely well thought out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • darrengrama wrote...
    what a bad post
    May 16, 2013 10:23 pm
    I'm not saying the Mariners are good but none of what you said is accurate. Its obvious you stopped paying your cable bill cause you haven't seen any of the games. They are competitive as ever. Smoak trade isn't working out but its better than getting nothing for Cliff Lee. Morales has been a good trade. Ibanez is stepping up in spots. Ackley is hitting WAAAAAYYYY better as of late. Seager is good, idk what you can mean by calling him a bust. Saunders is a true leadoff hitter. Idk man, I guess if I didn't know anything then I wouldn't make such strong statements. And don't end it with "oh by the way, I haven't watched any games this year." lol
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jarrett Campbell (JC) wrote...
    Congrats on 1500 Strikeouts
    April 11, 2013 11:08 pm
    Although things are not starting out well for the Mariners, I am happy to see King Felix get his 1500th strikeout. It is a great milestone for a great player and person. Considering he didn't have his best stuff tonight, he kept us in the game. Better defense and hitting with runners in scoring position would have made a difference in the loss to the division-rival Rangers team. It is disappointing that Morse will be out for a few games to nurse the small fracture on his pinky finger, which is a big blow to the M's, who already lost Saunders on the 15 day disabled list. When it rains, it pours, and we sure get our share in Seattle, both literally and figuratively. Break out the umbrellas, it could be another long season, only time will tell. Who knows, maybe this team will break out of its funk and get some things going, I sure hope so.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RWIII wrote...
    Pinch runner
    April 18, 2013 9:23 am
    I remember when Smoak got the base. I was thinking why doesn't Wedge bring in a pinch runner? Looks to me like they could have someone on the bench faster than Smoak.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • jsean wrote...
    same-old-same-old...
    April 20, 2013 11:24 pm
    even the head-line is "recycled"(oct. 2, '12) Gees...there is alot to suggest that montero is a bust...first of all wedge has sat him down, secondly he can't run, third and this one is very important, in a game of speed montero can't run!! Cliff asked for an extension before the season started and Jack said no, so the trade was not "necessary" but pre-concieved...i like that seager has 9 doubles already. when saunders gets back maybe put kyle in the 5 hole to help protect morse...when you have 4 or sometimes 5 infielders who are hitting below .220 it really makes the season feel like it is over....i don't mind the rain but this is just aweful...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Dan1 wrote...
    HEY MYNW FIRE YOUR IT STAFF
    April 21, 2013 8:07 pm
    Same garbage as last year! Hey M'S, do us proud. Finish the road trip right, get swept right out of Texas. M'S will be in the cellar when they leave Houston.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • igotanopinion wrote...
    Athletics can't capitalize?
    April 27, 2013 12:48 am
    What the he11 are you smoking when writing this garbage? Who is editing this? I had to read it 5 times to make are that I wasn't wrong. Bush league. Just terrible. Anyways.... Team is close to turning the corner. They have looked different the last two nights. Hopefully wedge can keep the foot wedged in their a55es and keep them moving in the right direction. Next 2 weeks will determine the season.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ed Altizer wrote...
    Well said Igo......
    April 27, 2013 8:53 am
    It's embarrassing that a major city newspaper doesn't have anyone to proof read their articles before printing. Or, if they day, this person is overpaid. Now....1 for 12 with men in scoring position. Totally unexceptable.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Toby in Tacoma wrote...
    Comments
    May 4, 2013 2:25 pm
    Hey Root sports or whoever is in charge of the Comments section. Why are we reading comments from April??
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Old Centurian wrote...
    @Toby in Tacoma
    May 4, 2013 10:31 pm
    Good point about the old comments, although in light of the Mariners' recent hot streak, the doomsayers are starting to look a little bit foolish. Made for amusing reading!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }






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