Mariners Roll As Belcher Finds The Zone Pitcher Breaks Personal Three-Game Losing Streak, Leads Seattle Past First-Place Rangers
For Tim Belcher, the difference between winning and losing is throwing his fastball exactly where he wants to throw it.
“If I can throw as many fastballs in all areas of the strike zone and get outs like I did tonight, this game’s a lot of fun,” Belcher said after combining with Bobby Ayala for a 2-0 victory over the first-place Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
Belcher (4-3), acquired in a May 15 trade from Cincinnati, broke a personal three-game losing streak in keeping the Mariners above .500.
“I’ve never had exceptional breaking stuff in my entire career,” the 33-year-old right-hander said. “The key for me is to locate my fastballs. Tonight I was able to do that. But I never know when that’s going to happen.”
Belcher gave up six hits, walked four and struck out four in eight innings before Ayala worked the ninth for his 13th save. Belcher had no problem with manager Lou Piniella’s decision that denied him his first shutout since Aug. 10, 1993.
“Sure, absolutely,” Belcher said when asked if he’d have liked to have finished the game. “But we’ve got a good bullpen and a good closer. Earlier in my career, when shutouts and stuff like that were important, this might have bothered me. But those things aren’t important. Winning games is what’s important.”
It was the fifth time A.L. West-leading Texas has been shut out this season, tying Milwaukee for the most in the league.
Tino Martinez gave Belcher all the offense he needed when he hit a 3-1 pitch by Roger Pavlik 413 feet over the center-field fence leading off the fourth for his 14th homer. It was one of five Seattle hits off Pavlik (4-4) in 6 innings. Pavlik started with two days’ rest after lasting only of an inning in a 20-4 loss to California.
“Maybe he’s a guy who needs to pitch on one day’s rest,” Texas manager Johnny Oates said jokingly. “The results were good. He did get behind Tino 3-1 and didn’t want to walk him. He got the pitch up and over the plate and Tino hit it out of the ball park.”
Martinez has 47 RBIs in 60 games. His career high is 66 in 1992. Without the injured Ken Griffey Jr. in the lineup, Martinez is getting more chances to drive in runs.
“I’m getting a lot of opportunities because Edgar (Martinez) is getting on base so much and I’m batting higher in the lineup,” Martinez said. “Tonight I didn’t think one run would do it. Fortunately, Tim did such a good job of pitching inside and tying them up.”
The Mariners made it 2-0 in the eighth on Mike Blowers’ RBI single off Roger McDowell.
The Rangers loaded the bases with one out in the fourth when Belcher walked Mickey Tettleton, gave up a single to Ivan Rodriguez and walked Mike Pagliarulo. Benji Gill grounded into a double play to end it.”We were one base hit away,” Oates said.