Kreuter Catches A Break Backup Player Doubles In Two Runs In M’S 4-3 Win

Chad Kreuter signed with Seattle as a free agent when baseball’s strike ended this spring because he thought the Mariners could give him his best opportunity to play. But Dan Wilson’s hot bat (.328) has relegated Kreuter to a backup role.

Kreuter got a rare start at catcher Thursday and doubled in two runs for his first RBIs of the season as the Mariners beat Boston 4-3, sending the A.L. East-leading Red Sox to their fifth loss in six games.

“It’s nice,” Kreuter said. “I’ve come up a few times in RBI situations. It’s been frustrating not getting any. It’s nice to get a pitch to hit and drive it and get a couple of RBIs.”

Seattle scored three runs with two outs in the second for a 3-1 lead. Mike Blowers and Alex Rodriguez singled and scored on Kreuter’s double. He came home when second baseman Luis Alicea let Alex Diaz’s grounder go through his legs.

Tim Belcher (2-0) outpitched Zane Smith (0-1) in a battle of veterans making their second starts for new teams.

Smith was upset with himself for letting Kreuter double to right field.

“It’s a pitcher’s golden rule that you never give up runs with two out,” he said. “You can’t do that. Unfortunately, I didn’t do what I was supposed to do in that situation.”

Kreuter caught Belcher in Detroit last season. Belcher thinks so, too.”I’ll take this (2-0),” he said. “I’ve got two starts and two wins and I haven’t thrown 11 innings yet. You don’t get those too many times.”

Belcher walked Mike Macfarlane and Reggie Jefferson doubled with two outs in the sixth. Bill Risley relieved and struck out Tim Naehring. Bobby Ayala got five outs for his sixth save. The home fans booed Piniella when he removed Risley after he got the first out in the eighth.

“Risley has been pitching a lot and I want a pitcher in August,” Piniella said.

John Valentin, the game’s second batter, hit his sixth homer of the season. Alicea hit a solo homer in the third, his first of the year.

In the fourth, a double by Edgar Martinez and a single by Rodriguez gave the Mariners a 4-2 lead.

Alicea’s RBI single gave Boston its third run in the fifth.