Mariners Like Life On Road Relievers Blank Jays Over Final Seven Innings As M’S Complete Best Week Away From Home

Not since the roof fell in on the Seattle Mariners had they had a winning trip.

Bob Wells pitched five scoreless innings of relief and the Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 Sunday for their first successful road trip of the season.

The Mariners split a pair of games in Milwaukee before going to SkyDome and taking the final two games of the weekend series, giving them a 3-2 trip and six wins in their last nine games.

They went 11-9 in their last winning road trip, when falling ceiling tiles forced them out of the Kingdome from July 22 to Aug. 11 last season.

“We know we’re capable of doing it. It’s just a matter of going on to the field and making it happen,” Tino Martinez said after homering and driving in two runs.

The Blue Jays have dropped six of their last seven at home.

“We were in position to win all five games on the road,” Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. “This was a big win for us because it gets us back to the .500 mark. Now let’s see if we can take advantage of our seven-game homestand and get above it.”

Wells (3-3), an ex-Community Colleges of Spokane pitcher, relieved Bill Krueger with one out and runners at first in the second, and retired 15 of the 19 hitters. He allowed three hits and a walk while striking out two.

Bobby Ayala pitched two innings for his 14th save. David Cone (9-6) allowed five runs on 10 hits in seven innings.

“If Wells didn’t do what he did, we’d have had to use our whole staff,” Piniella said. “Not only is he rewarded with a win, but our bullpen is still intact.”

With the score tied at 4, Joey Cora led off the Seattle fourth with a single and went to third on Alex Diaz’s double. After Edgar Martinez grounded out and Tino Martinez walked to load the bases, Jay Buhner singled home a run.

Tino Martinez hit an RBI double in the Mariners’ ninth.

Seattle scored three times in the third, tying it at 4. Tino Martinez hit a solo home run, his 22nd, and Dan Wilson had a two-run single.

Domingo Cedeno had a three-run homer, his second, and Michael Huff had an RBI double in the second, giving the Blue Jays a 4-1 lead.

“It’s really disappointing to get a lead like that and then go right out the next inning and give it up,” Cone said. “It’s something front-line pitchers don’t do.”

Notes

Krueger, at 37 years old, was the oldest pitcher to start for the Mariners since 44-year-old Gaylord Perry on June 22, 1983. Krueger is the 10th different Seattle pitcher to start this season… . Cone had allowed one run in 17 innings prior to the game… . Cone walked four Sunday, after walking eight in his previous five starts… . Joe Carter went 0 for 4 Sunday and has four hits in his last 52 at bats (.077)… . Paul Molitor stole his 30th straight base.