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

Mariners blow four-run lead in ninth, lose

Washington Nationals' Wilson Ramos is mobbed by teammates after he hit a three-run home run to lift the N Nationals over the Mariners.  (Nick Wass / Fr67404 Ap)
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — One out away from completing a dominating victory, disaster struck for the Seattle Mariners. Wilson Ramos capped Washington’s five-run ninth inning with a game-ending three-run homer, lifting the Nationals to a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Mariners on Tuesday night. “Obviously, things turned in a hurry,” Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. The Mariners wasted a fine effort from Doug Fister, who allowed one run and three hits in eight innings. The right-hander is 0-3 in four June starts despite a 3.60 ERA. Brandon League replaced Fister for the ninth and Jayson Werth reached on a two-base error by first baseman Justin Smoak to begin the inning. Roger Bernadina walked before Ryan Zimmerman hit into a double play, leaving Werth on third. Jerry Hairston followed with a run-scoring single and Michael Morse reached on a comebacker that hit League in the right calf, forcing him out of the game after attempting several warmup pitches. “He couldn’t feel much down there, and that was his push-off leg, so we had to get him out of there,” Wedge said. David Pauley (4-1) entered and gave up an RBI single to Danny Espinosa, setting the stage for Ramos. “Everything was kind of a messed-up situation, but it’s no excuse,” Pauley said. “You have to go out there and make pitches, and I made a bad one.” Adam Kennedy had three hits and two RBIs for Seattle, which finished with 13 hits. Prized prospect Dustin Ackley also drove in two runs.