Pitching Has Piniella Fuming Tuesday’s Blown Lead Against Boston Lights A Fire In Seattle Manager’s Eye

Make no mistake about it, Mariners Manager Lou Piniella’s inner fire still smolders like the earth’s core.

And sometimes, not so unexpectedly, it can spew to the surface in a passionate panoply of torrid rhetoric and hot gas.

Mount Piniella erupted Tuesday night - after Seattle’s 11-9 victory over Boston - and some pitchers had better run for cover.

“I tell you this,” said Piniella, his bellow strengthening with every word, “some of these pitchers here, and they can look in the mirror, if they want to be on the staff next year, I’d better see something the last three weeks of the season.

“Because I will not carry the same staff next year. I better see something from some of these guys because I’m getting tired of getting roughed up … “

Losing is unacceptable to Piniella. He has been tossed out three times in the past 12 games, no doubt trying to stoke the competitive fires within his players.

It looked like the button had been set on cruise control Tuesday with the Mariners’ 5-0 first-inning lead and 11-4 edge entering the ninth. But it took four pitchers - Bob Wells, Tim Davis, Mike Jackson and Norm Charlton - to extinguish Boston’s five-run rally.

Piniella didn’t want to use his short relievers in what should have been a rout. He didn’t want to give the Red Sox any momentum going into the homestand finale. He didn’t want his emotions stirred again.

More important, he wants to see an attitude: Refuse to Lose, Not Cruise. He wants the same one Seattle had a year ago when it went 24-11 over the final five weeks.

He saw it Tuesday, but on the other side of the diamond. The Red Sox, who came back from a 5-0 deficit Monday to win 9-8 in 10 innings, rebounded again Tuesday. They continued to make it a game, bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth.

“It’s always nerve-wracking when a team scores five in the ninth,” said center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., whose three-run, first-inning home run and spectacular seventh-inning catch were crucial to the victory. Seattle is in a four-way race for the wild card, all separated by 3 games or less.

“When it gets close, you have to get it done somehow,” Griffey added. “We make a mistake, it’s going to cost us. We can’t afford to make mistakes now.”