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Seattle Mariners

Dodgers rally from early deficits to defeat Mariners 6-5 in 10 innings

Nelson Cruz delivers his fourth home run in three games, a two-run shot in the first inning, but Mariners squandered lead in 6-5, 10-inning loss. (Associated Press)
Nelson Cruz delivers his fourth home run in three games, a two-run shot in the first inning, but Mariners squandered lead in 6-5, 10-inning loss. (Associated Press)
Bob Dutton

LOS ANGELES –  A four-run lead wasn’t enough Monday night for James Paxton and the Mariners. Heck, four homers of firepower wasn’t enough.

Paxton squandered that support before the Los Angeles Dodgers completed their comeback when Alex Guerrero delivered a walk-off single for a 6-5 victory over Seattle in 10 innings at Dodger Stadium.

Andre Ethier started the winning rally with a leadoff double into the right-center gap against Dominic Leone, who had worked two scoreless innings after being recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Tacoma.

Leone handled Yasiel Puig’s hopper for the first out and held Ethier at second. Next came an intentional walk to Adrian Gonzalez, who was picked earlier in the day as the National League Player of the Week.

An unintentional walk to Howie Kendrick loaded the bases with one out.

The Mariners realigned at that point with a double switch: Spokane’s Tyler Olson replaced Leone, while Austin Jackson replaced Justin Ruggiano in center field.

Olson struck out Carl Crawford, but Guerrero punched a single into right center against the former Gonzaga standout.

The Mariners built leads of 4-0 and 5-2 on two homers by Nelson Cruz and one each from Kyle Seager and Dustin Ackley against L.A. starter Brandon McCarthy.

But the Dodgers. rallied by scoring three runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth against Paxton before walking off with the victory against Olson.

The loss cost the Mariners (3-4) a chance to climb over .500 and grab sole possession of first place in the American League West Division.

McCarthy gave up four homers but only two other hits in seven innings while striking out 10. He didn’t walk anyone and got a no-decision.

Yimi Garcia got the victory after pitching a scoreless 10th inning.

Paxton ended up with a no-decision when he exited after opening the seventh inning by striking out pinch-hitter Jimmy Rollins. Paxton gave up five runs and six hits while walking two and striking out six.

Carson Smith got one out but departed after Puig’s two-out single because the Mariners preferred Charlie Furbush for a lefty-on-lefty matchup against Gonzalez.

Furbush won that battle. Leone then took over in the eighth.