CLEVELAND (AP) - Two ninth-inning losses in two days have left the Seattle Mariners reeling and frustrated.

Mark Reynolds' bases-loaded fielder's choice in the ninth inning Saturday scored Jason Kipnis and gave the Cleveland Indians a 5-4 victory over Seattle.

The Mariners had tied the score in the top of the ninth on two-out home runs by Raul Ibanez and Justin Smoak off Indians closer Chris Perez, but lost in heartbreaking fashion for the second time in less than 24 hours.

On Friday night, Kipnis hit a game-ending three-run homer in the 10th inning to give Cleveland a 6-3 win.

"You don't see that very often, to hit two solo homers off a top closer like Perez, then they come back and snatch it in the bottom of the inning," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said, shaking his head. "This was a tough one."

Mariners reliever Oliver Perez (1-1) started the ninth, but allowed all three Indians he faced to reach base. The veteran left-hander surrendered a single to Kipnis and a double to Asdrubal Cabrera after going up 0-2 to both hitters, then intentionally walked Nick Swisher to load the bases.

Rookie Yoervis Medina entered and Reynolds hit a sharp grounder to shortstop Brendan Ryan, but catcher Jesus Montero came off home plate after taking the throw. Kipnis scored standing up, making Chris Perez (2-0) the winner after blowing the save minutes earlier.

"I thought I had him," said Ryan, whose right knee was bloodied while making the stop. "I haven't seen the replay, so I don't know exactly what happened, but I did the best I could."

Wedge had plenty to say, especially about Montero's inability to record the force out.

"The throw beat him, but Monty came off the plate early," said Wedge, a former major league catcher. "You have to stand on the plate, but he came out a little bit early. We got the ground ball we wanted _ Ryno made a great play _ but we didn't get it done."

Montero said Ryan's throw pulled him slightly toward first base, which was enough to slide his left foot onto the dirt.

"Brandon made an unbelievable diving catch and I tried hard to stay on the plate," said Montero. "We usually block the plate, but the ball was a little too far and I couldn't do it."

The Mariners trailed 4-0 when starter Joe Saunders was pulled after 5 1-3 innings and a season-high 120 pitches. The lefty was rocked for 11 hits, including a home run by Reynolds in the fifth, and remained winless on the road in 2013.

Saunders is 0-4 with an 11.25 ERA in away games, but a sparkling 3-0 with an 0.94 ERA at Safeco Field.

"I'm gonna sacrifice a chicken before my next road start. ... This is just kind of a fluky thing," Saunders said. "I told (pitching coach Carl Willis) in the fifth that I'd go 150 pitches if I had to. I gave everything I had and battled my butt off today."

Seattle reliever Danny Farquhar, who was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, made his first big league appearance since 2011 with Toronto. He tossed 2 2-3 perfect innings and struck out five after replacing Saunders.

Indians right-hander Zach McAllister took a shutout into the eighth, but was chased with one out when he allowed a two-run homer to Ryan. It was Ryan's first home run since Sept. 23, 2012, and landed on the home run porch in left.

Ibanez's blast was his second in two games against Cleveland, while Smoak's homer was his first since May 4.

"That was a very uneventful walkoff, but a win is a win," Reynolds said. "I just tried to put the ball in play somewhere. When I hit it I said to myself, `please get through,' then it was `please make a bad throw,' and Then `please get there.' "

The Mariners arrived in Cleveland having won 11 of their last 16, only to run into a buzzsaw in the Indians, who entered the day in a first-place tie with Detroit in the AL Central Division.

Seattle ace Felix Hernandez will start the third game of the four-game series Sunday against Cleveland's Justin Masterson. Hernandez leads the AL with a 1.53 ERA and has a 5-2 record.

Mariners right fielder Michael Morse (eye irritation) returned to the lineup after a one-game absence and was 0 for 4. He was hurt Friday while putting in a contact lens.

NOTES: Wedge said OF Franklin Gutierrez (right hamstring strain) will not be activated from the 15-day disabled list until "he can come up here, steal a base, and do some things." Gutierrez is playing CF and RF during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. "If Guti is 100 percent, there is nobody better than him in center," Wedge said. "But Michael Saunders has been great there for us, and we need Guti to stay healthy. That's easier to do, playing either right or left field." ... Mariners RHP Aaron Harang (lower back stiffness) played catch before the game and will throw a bullpen session Sunday. Harang was a late scratch Thursday against the Yankees, but is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Angels. ... Cleveland Browns coach Rob Chudzinski threw out the ceremonial first pitch.


(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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