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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
BOSTON (AP) – John Halama didn't hesitate when Seattle manager
Lou Piniella asked him to pitch on three days' rest.
|  | | Al Martin, left, is called safe at home on this play. Jason Veritek, right, takes exception with the call and is tossed. |
"You really don't have a choice," he said after combining with
three relievers on a five hitter Thursday night that led the
Mariners over the Boston Red Sox 5-2. "That's what they told me to
do. I only do what I'm told."
Halama (3-3) allowed two runs – one earned – and three hits in 5
1-3 innings. Jeff Nelson gave up a hit, Norm Charlton pitched 1 1/3
perfect innings and Kazuhiro Sasaki allowed a leadoff double in the
ninth before earning his 16th save in 17 chances.
"Our bullpen really did the job," Piniella said. "It's one of
our biggest strengths. I've got experience out there, I've got
quality and I've got depth."
Edgar Martinez and Bret Boone homered off of Tomo Ohka (2-2),
who allowed five runs and seven hits in five-plus innings.
Halama had pitched on three days' rest only once before in his
career, against Detroit on Aug. 16 last year, when he allowed six
runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.
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Fast starters
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Ichiro already has become just the third rookie in the last 20 years to
have two hitting streaks of 15 or more games in the same season. Each of
those streaks breaks the Mariners record for the longest hitting streak by a
rookie, formerly held by Mickey Brantley, who hit in 12 consecutive games in
1987. |
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Streaks
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2001 Ichiro SEA
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15, 15
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2000 J. Pierre COL
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15, 16
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1982 K. Hrbek MIN
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17, 23
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But Piniella asked – make that told – him to come back quickly
after Sunday's start so he wouldn't be pitching in consecutive
games with fellow lefty Jamie Moyer.
"I tried that last year and I got my tail beat. But that was
last year. It's done and over with," Halama said. "Could I
continue to do this? I doubt it."
The game was scoreless when Al Martin singled to lead off the
fifth inning. Two outs later, Carlos Guillen singled to right and
Martin came all the way around to score, sliding under catcher
Jason Varitek's tag.
Varitek apparently thought he had blocked the plate, because he
began arguing vociferously with plate umpire Mark Wegner. Varitek
was ejected for bumping Wegner, the umpire said, and manager Jimy
Williams joined him a short time later after he came out to argue
the call.
"I told the umpire there was no way he got there," said
Varitek, who had never before been thrown out of a game. "...
There was no way, no chance I pushed the umpire."
When play resumed, Ichiro Suzuki singled to left to score
Guillen and give the Mariners a 2-0 lead. Boston made it 2-1 in the
bottom of the inning when John Valentin walked and scored on Mike
Lansing's sacrifice fly.
Seattle scored three more in the sixth when Martinez hit a
leadoff homer, John Olerud singled and Boone homered to chase Ohka.
Valentin, who injured his knee last May and didn't play again
until he came in as a defensive replacement Wednesday night,
started at shortstop for the first time since 1996. He made two
flawless plays in the first inning and got a standing ovation
before his first at-bat, in the third, when he hit the first pitch
for a double off the Green Monster.
Game notes
Valentin played shortstop for one inning on Wednesday
night. ... The Red Sox placed INF Chris Stynes on the 15-day
disabled list Thursday, one day after he was hit in the head with a
pitch by Seattle's Aaron Sele. Lou Merloni was recalled from
Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Stynes on the roster. ... Troy
O'Leary is hitting .291 at Fenway, .156 on the road. ... Manny
Ramirez has reached base safely in 31 of 33 games this season.
First batters are 0-for-16 against Nelson this season. ... Dante
Bichette doubled to lead off the ninth and extended his hitting
streak to 11 games.
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OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Boston Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 6
Texas 5
Seattle 5
Boston 2
Kansas City 8
Cleveland 3
Minnesota 5
NY Yankees 4
Oakland 14
Toronto 8
Baltimore 9
Tampa Bay 5
Anaheim 7
Chi. White Sox 6
Milwaukee 11
Chicago Cubs 1
St. Louis 11
Pittsburgh 5
Colorado 8
NY Mets 2
San Francisco 13
Montreal 0
San Diego 6
Atlanta 5
Los Angeles 4
Florida 3
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jason Varitek can't belive umpire Mark Wegner thought he intentionally pushed him.
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RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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