Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Socked by Sox


Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki doubles during the sixth inning. Associated Press
 (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

SEATTLE – Brian Anderson and Carlos Quentin each homered and combined for five RBIs in the second inning, powering the Chicago White Sox to an 8-4 victory over the slumping Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.

Javier Vazquez (4-3) allowed six hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings as the White Sox moved into a first-place tie with Minnesota in the American League Central with their third consecutive win and fourth in five games. The Twins lost 5-2 to Boston.

The White Sox jumped on starter Jarrod Washburn (2-5) for six runs on five hits in the second inning to take a 6-0 lead. The Mariners have lost five in a row, and 10 of 11.

Anderson hit a three-run, 414-foot homer in the second, his first of the season. Three batters later, Quentin hit a two-run, 402-foot homer, his ninth. Quentin finished 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

Washburn threw 37 pitches in the inning, and allowed eight hits and seven runs in five innings.

In an effort to revive the offense, the Mariners moved Adrian Beltre to third in the order from fifth, dropped Raul Ibanez to fourth from third and dropped Jose Lopez to fifth from second. Manager John McLaren said before the game he wanted more punch in the middle of the lineup.

Beltre hit his seventh homer in the fourth and added a two-run single in the sixth. Beltre’s single broke a 0-for-19 slump by the Mariners with runners in scoring position. Beltre also improved to 15 for 34 (.441) in his career against Vazquez.

Lopez went 1 for 3 with a triple and a sacrifice fly, while Ibanez went 1 for 4.

Seattle had the tying run at the plate with Beltre and two outs in the seventh.

But second baseman Juan Uribe threw out Ichiro Suzuki at home as he attempted to run from third after Willie Bloomquist stole second following a pick-off move by pitcher Octavio Dotel.

The Mariners had scored only three runs in their previous four games. They have yet to win a game this season in which they’ve trailed by more than one run.

Notes

Anderson, a part-time starter, has hit four of his 11 career homers at Safeco Field. … Chicago designated hitter Jim Thome, who homered Friday, didn’t start so he could have extra rest before today’s day game. … Seattle designated hitter Jose Vidro sat out because of back spasms.