M’s edge Twins 2-1 in 10 innings

SEATTLE – Ryan Langerhans scored from second base on an infield single by Ichiro Suzuki with two outs in the bottom of the 10th and the Seattle Mariners won their first extra-inning game of the season, 2-1 over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.

Just hours after Ken Griffey Jr., the greatest player in Mariners history, announced his sudden retirement, arguably the player next in the pecking order came through.

On the 11th pitch of the at-bat from reliever Jose Mijares, Ichiro hit a ground ball up the middle. Matt Tolbert made a diving stop and attempted to force Josh Wilson at second base. But his flip to shortstop J.J. Hardy was late and Langerhans never stopped rounding third and scored easily.

Langerhans was running for Casey Kotchman, who reached on a one-out infield single off Matt Guerrier (0-1). Wilson then singled to left with two outs, giving Ichiro a chance to get to the plate.

Having struck out three times for the first time in nearly three seasons, Ichiro fouled off seven straight pitches before getting his hit. Seattle was 0-6 in extra-inning games before Wednesday.

The Mariners’ last game-winning hit came off the bat of Griffey on May 20, a pinch-hit single in the ninth to beat Toronto. That was also Griffey’s final hit.

Brandon League (5-5) got the win for Seattle, pitching a perfect 10th.

Cliff Lee threw eight strong innings for Seattle and was on pace for his ninth career win against the Twins until the seventh. Minnesota got its lone run on Michael Cuddyer’s homer to deep right-center field leading off the inning. Lee left a 1-2 cutter over the plate and Cuddyer drove it for his seventh homer. It was the first homer allowed by Lee this season after 502/3 innings.

Cuddyer is leaving the Twins today following the death of his father-in-law. Manager Ron Gardenhire said Cuddyer would be placed on the bereavement list and not rejoin the team until they return to Minneapolis early next week.

Other than Cuddyer’s homer, the Twins threatened Lee one other time when they had runners on second and third and one out in the fourth.

Lee gave up five hits and struck out eight. It was his second no-decision in seven starts.

Minnesota had a chance to win it in the ninth off closer David Aardsma, who didn’t make it easy on himself.

Aardsma, who gave up a game-winning homer to the Angels’ Howie Kendrick last Sunday, walked Joe Mauer on four pitches to open the ninth. Mauer moved to second on Rob Johnson’s seventh passed ball of the season and to third with one out after a groundout by Justin Morneau.

Aardsma caught a break when Cuddyer cracked a liner right at Wilson, buckling the shortstop to his knees, for the second out. Jason Kubel then flied out to left to end the threat.

Seattle manufactured its first run thanks to Milton Bradley. He singled leading off the fifth, then stole both second and third base. Bradley scored on Kotchman’s sacrifice fly.

Twins starter Kevin Slowey worked seven innings, giving up five hits and striking out three.

Mariners 2, Twins 1 (10)

LOB—Minnesota 5, Seattle 6. 2B—Morneau (19). HR—Cuddyer (7), off Cl.Lee. RBIs—Cuddyer (29), I.Suzuki (12), Kotchman (21). SB—Bradley 2 (3). CS—Tolbert (1). SF—Kotchman. RLISP—Minnesota 3 (Kubel 3); Seattle 2 (M.Sweeney, Ro.Johnson). GIDP—Kotchman. DP—Minnesota 1 (Tolbert, Hardy, Morneau).

IR-S—Mijares 2-1. PB—Ro.Johnson. T—2:47. A—20,414 (47,878).