Padres edge Mariners on solo homer
SEATTLE – Yonder Alonso homered in the seventh inning and Jason Marquis and three relievers combined on an eight-hitter as the San Diego Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 on Wednesday night.
Alonso hit his second homer of the season – and seventh of his career – on the first pitch of the seventh inning from starter Hector Noesi.
Marquis (1-1) gave up six hits and four walks and struck out four over 6 1/3 innings. Huston Street pitched the ninth for his seventh save.
Noesi (2-7) allowed one run and five hits in seven innings. He had allowed 12 earned runs in his previous two outings combined.
Marquis left with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh after a walk to John Jaso, a single by Casper Wells and an error by Alonso at first base. Joe Thatcher, who came in specifically to face left-handed hitters Tuesday and allowed a home run and double before being removed, was called on again.
He got Ichiro Suzuki to ground into a fielder’s choice and struck out Dustin Ackley looking to survive the inning.
Padres reliever Luke Gregerson worked out of an eighth-inning jam. Justin Smoak flied out to center after an eight-pitch at-bat with a runner on first. Michael Saunders singled to left, advancing pinch-runner Chone Figgins to third with two outs. But Gregerson struck out Jaso to keep Seattle off the board.
The Padres loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Brandon League. He struck out Cameron Maybin on three pitches and then got Nick Hundley to ground into a 5-2-3 double play.
Noesi temporarily lost command in the fourth, walking consecutive hitters before getting a groundout from Alonso. He struck out the side in the first and got an unassisted double play from Ackley in the third.
Wednesday was the second time Marquis has faced Seattle this year in as many uniforms. He started against the Mariners for the Minnesota Twins on May 5, allowing four runs over six innings 5 at Safeco Field.
The Mariners put at least one runner on base against Marquis in every inning, but could not score.
Mariners make moves
The Mariners placed outfielder Mike Carp and reliever Stephen Pryor on the 15-day disabled list, optioned pitcher Blake Beavan and infielder Alex Liddi to Triple-A Tacoma and called up four minor leaguers.
The Mariners made the moves prior to their game against the San Diego Padres. Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez was activated from the 15-day DL after missing all of the 2012 season so far with chest and foot injuries. Seattle also recalled pitcher Erasmo Ramirez, outfielder Casper Wells and pitcher Steve Delabar from Tacoma.
Mariners manager Eric Wedge said Gutierrez will play center field today. Michael Saunders will slide over to left when Gutierrez is in center.
Carp was placed on the disabled list with an swollen right shoulder he first injured in the season opener in Japan in March. Pryor has a left groin strain.
Gutierrez, Wells and Delabar will be in uniform and available immediately.