Mariners Hammer Rangers Yet Again Cora’s Three-Run Hr Caps Seven-Run Fifth As Seattle Nails 50th Win At Record Pace

The Seattle Mariners turned 50 Thursday night. To do so, they relied on baby boomers as well as aging sluggers. But the Texas Rangers are the ones who must feel like things are really getting old.

The visitors were pummeled 12-9 at the Kingdome - losing to the Mariners for the 37th time in their last 45 meetings, the 23rd time in 27 contests in Seattle.

A victory over Texas was accomplished once again when the home club overcame a 5-4 deficit with a seven-run fifth inning, sending 12 players to the plate for five hits, three walks and yet another impressive display of instant offense.

In that fateful fifth, Dan Wilson’s one-out, bases-loaded walk provided the game-deciding run while Joey Cora’s two-out, three-run home run, his career-best ninth, capped the lengthy uprising.

Mere discussion of the one-sidedness of the series between the two teams was met with stares and terse comments in the Seattle clubhouse, as if superstition had been broached.

“We’ve been fortunate against them,” Mariners manager Lou Piniella said, looking down. “Let’s hope it continues.”

Said Wilson: “It’s not something we’re thinking about. We’re just trying to win the game.”

With an appreciative crowd of 32,851 on hand, the Mariners returned from the All-Star break in record-breaking form, reaching 50 victories in 88 games - the quickest they’ve hit that milestone by two games. A year ago, they needed 90 games to claim No. 50. Seventeen years ago, they needed 136 games to get there, the longest time required.

The win kept the first-place Mariners a comfortable 4-1/2 games ahead of the Anaheim Angels in the American League West, the third-place Rangers dropping six games off the pace.

Cora and Alex Rodriguez, not exactly refreshed after playing in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Cleveland but showing why they belonged there, had four hits each. Jay Buhner looked fully rested, stroking three hits, two doubles and his first triple in three seasons.

Cora’s homer off former Mariner reliever Eric Gunderson found the left-field seats in a high-arcing manner. He also singled three times.

Rodriguez doubled and singled twice, his second two-base hit banging off the left-field wall and igniting the Mariners’ fifth-inning eruption.

The shortstop’s leadoff drive was followed by a groundout and a walk to Edgar Martinez. Rodriguez scored on Jay Buhner’s double to tie the game at 5, Paul Sorrento was intentionally walked and Wilson was unintentionally walked for the game-winner. Russ Davis scored two on a single to center and Cora slapped his ninth homer, three more than his previous career best. Three Texas pitchers later, batting practice was over.

The Mariners finished with a season-high 18 hits, including a season-best six doubles, with five players maintaining averages over .300.

“These guys don’t have any fringe players,” Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. “Their leadoff guy is hitting .360, the next guy is hitting .300 and the next four guys are the big names. And the last time I looked the No. 8 guy was hitting .300 with 40 RBIs.”

And the solution?

“If I knew that answer, they wouldn’t be hitting .300,” Oates said.

The Mariners had a few rough moments from the mound. Starter Jamie Moyer, collecting his ninth victory in 11 decisions, gave up five runs in the third inning, with Will Clark’s two-run homer the big blow.

In the seventh, Moyer got the first two outs and was pulled in favor of Greg McCarthy. The lefty proceeded to give up singles to Ivan Rodriguez and Rusty Greer, setting up a three-run homer by Juan Gonzalez.

And closer Bobby Ayala walked a pair in the ninth and served up a run-scoring double high off the right-field wall to Gonzalez, bringing the tying run to the plate in Clark.

Needing just three pitches to end this 3-hour and 23-minute slugfest, rejuvenated reliever Norm Charlton struck out Clark for his 13th save.