Mariners Pull Off Record Comeback Buhner Single Delivers 11-10 Win Over Angels

Jay Buhner’s bases-loaded single in the eighth inning completed Seattle’s biggest come-back in club history and gave the Mariners an 11-10 win over the California Angels on Monday night.

The Mariners trailed 9-1 after 3-/12 innings before rallying to win the first regular-season game between the teams since Oct. 2 when Seattle won the A.L. West title 9-1 over California in a one-game playoff.

In the eighth, the Mariners loaded the bases against Mark Eichhorn (0-1). Rich Amaral walked and stole second. Ken Griffey Jr. then walked and Edgar Martinez hit a fly ball to right field that was dropped by Tim Salmon for an error, loading the bases. Jay Buhner followed with a game-winning single.

Norm Charlton (1-0), pitching for the first time in eight days after dropping 12 pounds sick with the flu, got the final six outs for the win.

Trailing 10-4 after 4-1/2 innings, the Mariners tied the score at 10 on Russ Davis’ three-run double off Eichhorn in the seventh. Mark Holzemer hit Ricky Jordan with a pitch with the bases loaded to give Seattle its first run in its four-run seventh.

The Mariners loaded the bases on a walk to Griffey, a single by Edgar Martinez and when Dennis Springer hit Buhner with a pitch.

From right field, Buhner preserved the tie in the eighth by throwing out J.T. Snow at the plate. Snow tried to score from second on Don Slaught’s pinch single, but Buhner’s throw beat him home and catcher John Marzano was waiting with the ball before Snow started his slide.

Seattle scored two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Alex Rodriguez and Joey Cora.

Mike Aldrete had a grand slam in a six-run fourth inning and a career-high five RBIs for the Angels.

Jim Edmonds added a two-run homer, his fifth, in the third for the Angels.

Paul Sorrento and Rodriguez homered for the Mariners.

Aldrete, 35, making his first start of the season, hit Edwin Hurtado’s first pitch in the fourth for his second career grand slam to put the Angels ahead 8-1.

In the fourth, Menhart gave up a double to George Arias and singles Gary DiSarcina for a 4-1 California lead. Menhart hit Randy Velarde with a pitch in the back to load the bases and then threw a ball to Aldrete before he was taken out and replaced by Hurtado.

Aldrete added a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Shawn Boskie.

M’s pitchers tagged for 23 homers

Aldrete’s first grand slam came for Oakland off John Doherty in Detroit Aug. 20, 1993. Aldrete now has 100 RBIs in the AL… . It was the Angels’ second grand slam of the season. Edmonds hit one against Milwaukee April 2… . Seattle’s pitching staff now has given up 23 home runs, most in the majors… . Menhart’s ERA ballooned from 5.87 to 10.13… . The Angels pitchers have hit 11 batters this season.

First inning keys M’s fast start

Part of the reason for the Seattle Mariners’ recent scoring outburst and overall good play may have come from the ability to play with a lead rather than chasing all the time.

The Mariners outscored opponents, 14-3, in the first inning over their last six games prior to Monday, and had scored a run in the first inning in eight of their first 12 games.

“Joey Cora goes out there and does a professional job of leading off the game,” said manager Lou Piniella. “It sets the tone for the ballgame.”

Early hits, and more importantly, early runs, make every pitcher look a bit easier to hit and as Seattle found out in winning the final four games of its first road trip, hitting is contagious.

The Mariners had recorded double figures in hits in five of their past six games heading into Monday. Six of the Mariners’ eight wins came when they scored first.

Consistent run production also has helped the Seattle pitchers relax and they’ve shown more confidence when taking the mound with an early lead.

Wilson joins elite company

Catcher Dan Wilson, who was not selected American League player of the week despite hitting four home runs last week, joined a rare group with his power spurt.

Only four catchers since 1980 have hit three homers in a game, as Wilson did at Tiger Stadium, and none had done it on the road.

Wilson also has helped the Mariners’ young pitchers adjust well and has thrown out the past five runners attempting to steal.

“We saw this in Cincinnati,” said Piniella, manager of the Reds when they drafted Wilson. “We recognized that his defensive skills were there, his ability to call a ballgame was there, his ability to handle a pitching staff. The question was, ‘When would the hitting come?’ “

Bosio In good shape

Chris Bosio’s win in Toronto was promising and the fact that his knees responded well to the work is encouraging. But Piniella doensn’t want to get overly excited yet about having a durable Bosio well into the season.

“He’s not sore at all,” Piniella said. “But it’s only one start. Let’s see five or six.”

Coming up

Randy Johnson (2-0, 3.00) pitches for Seattle against Jim Abbott (0-2, 8.03) tonight. The game also is on Prime Sports.

On this day

1910 - President William Howard Taft initiated the custom of the chief executive throwing out the first ball at a Washington opener.

1915 - Rube Marquard of the New York Giants no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning 2-0.