M’s make marginal gains
SEATTLE (AP) — Twelve months ago, Ichiro Suzuki told his Mariners he was frustrated with what he saw as his teammates’ lack of commitment and resolve throughout a second consecutive last-place season.
So how does Seattle’s most accomplished player feel about his team finishing its 2006 season still in last place but with nine more wins – the final one being a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday that Suzuki jump started with a leadoff home run?
“To answer that question, that would take an hour,” Suzuki said through his interpreter.
Count Suzuki’s need to ponder instead of pout as another sign of Seattle’s incremental improvement this season.
Richie Sexson added his 34th home run in the second inning off Robinson Tejeda to complete his second-half resurgence. Adrian Beltre then singled after Yuniesky Betancourt doubled to break a 2-2 tie in the third as the Mariners finished 78-84, but with optimism.
Sexson was batting .221 on Aug. 7 but finished the season at .264 – thanks to a .365 September.
The nine-year veteran and two-time All-Star called his rally “my greatest accomplishment.”
The Mariners rallied with him. They went 22-16 following their 0-11 road trip in August that dropped them from playoff contention.
“This season, on a whole, was a step in the right direction. And I don’t think there’s any spin on that,” manager Mike Hargrove said.
Team chief executive officer Howard Lincoln said last week that Hargrove will return for a third and final year on his contract in 2007. General manager Bill Bavasi will also be back.
They will have Suzuki in the final year of his $44 million, four-year contract. The major league hits leader got two more on Sunday.
Suzuki finished with 224 hits, the third time in six Mariners seasons he has led the major leagues in that category. This season, he rebounded from a woeful April of batting .177 to do it, and finished with a .322 average.
Texas’ Michael Young had an infield single in the sixth inning to finish with 217 hits, second-most in Rangers’ history and second to Suzuki in the league.
Jake Woods, a reliever who finished the season in the Mariners’ makeshift rotation that will get an overhaul in 2007, pitched six innings and allowed eight hits.
Woods (7-4) struck out six and walked none. He was 4-3 in eight starts after joining the rotation on Aug. 25.
“He’s done nothing to make us think he can’t start,” Hargrove said.
Jon Huber pitched two scoreless innings before J.J. Putz completed the ninth inning for his 36th save in 43 chances to end his revelation of a season.
Tejeda (5-5) allowed six hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Ian Kinsler provided all of Texas’ scoring with his 14th home run of the season into the back of the Rangers’ bullpen off Woods in the third inning.