Mariners Rally, Win In Ninth Wilson’s Homer Helps Seattle Stay On Top In Wild Card Race
Another homecoming, another game-winning homer for Dan Wilson. Another victory for the surging Seattle Mariners in their drive for a playoff spot.
“These are the kinds of games we have to win down the stretch,” Wilson said after hitting a go-ahead homer in the top of the ninth as the Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 Saturday night.
The Mariners stayed a game up in the wild-card race and are just three games behind West leader California.
It was Wilson’s fourth homer in the last six games, his ninth of the season and his second game-winner against the Sox at Comiskey Park this season.
“Adrenalin sort of takes over at that point. It’s exciting. I wasn’t even sure it was out. I thought maybe I got under it too much and I wasn’t sure what the wind was going to do with it out there,” said Wilson, a native of Arlington Heights, Ill., a Chicago suburb.
“Dan Wilson, what a huge homer,” said Mariners manager Lou Piniella after Seattle rallied to tie the game with two runs in the seventh against Chicago’s hottest pitcher, Alex Fernandez.
“We got three doubles and came back off a good pitcher who had won five in a row.”
The Mariners, who have won 7 of 8, are now seven games above .500 for the first time since Aug. 21, 1991.
Wilson’s solo homer with one out in the top of the ninth came off reliever Matt Karchner (3-2) and broke a 3-3 tie.
Vince Coleman, who followed his four-hit game Friday night with three more hits Saturday, then singled, stole second, reached third when Craig Grebeck dropped a throw on an attempted steal and raced home when the ball got behind third.
“That’s his game, get on base and make things happen. He did it again tonight,” said Piniella.
Seattle tied the game in the seventh on doubles by Jay Buhner, Luis Sojo and Coleman off Fernandez.
“I made some good pitches and some bad pitches. Coleman hit his double off the end of the bat and it just went over first base into right field,” said Fernandez.
Fernandez, who was bidding to win his sixth straight decision, struck out 10 and walked one in a pitching duel with Tim Belcher. Fernandez allowed nine hits in eight innings.
Belcher (10-10) allowed five hits, struck out three and walked two in eight innings before giving way to Norm Charlton, who collected his 11th save by pitching a perfect ninth.
Robin Ventura’s RBI single, moments after Frank Thomas was ejected by home plate umpire Tim Tschida for arguing a called third strike, gave the Sox a 2-1 lead in the sixth.
Grebeck followed with an RBI fielder’s-choice grounder behind second to score Dave Martinez for a 3-1 lead. Seattle second baseman Joey Cora made his second error of the game on the play, flipping wildly past the bag after fielding the ball. But Ray Durham hit into a double play to end the inning.
The White Sox tied the game at 1-1 in the third when Cora threw past second on Martinez’s perfect double-play bouncer. Tim Raines then hit an RBI grounder.
Buhner’s sixth homer in seven games and his 35th of the season put the Mariners up 1-0 in the second.
Notes
Frank Thomas came out of the dugout and threw down his batting glove before he was tossed… . Vince Coleman needs one stolen base to move into a tie with Max Carey for sixth place in major-league history. Coleman, who had a steal Saturday night, has 737. He’s currently third among active players behind Rickey Henderson (1,147) and Tim Raines (776)… . With expanded September rosters, the White Sox have the third-youngest pitching staff in the American League (26.9 years average) and the fifth-youngest roster (27.8). Minnesota has the youngest pitching staff (25) and youngest roster (26.7). Texas has the oldest pitching staff (31.1) and the oldest roster (30.4)… . White Sox third baseman Chris Snopek left the game after five innings because of a bruised right shoulder. … After his second error, Joey Cora was replaced at second by Felix Fermin.