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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Struggling Cora Finds Way To Help Out Mariner Mates

Tacoma News Tribune

On one of the best trips in franchise history, the Seattle Mariners won six of seven games, though Joey Cora didn’t feel too big a part of it.

Before Thursday’s game in which the Mariners defeated the Tigers 8-6, Cora was in an 0-for-12 stretch, batting .128 and had been moved to ninth in the order one game of the trip, benched for another. Then he began the final game of the trip by going 0 for 2 and committing an error that cost his team a run.

Much like the team he plays for, however, Cora rarely sees a game as unsalvageable - and he made the most of what time he had left Thursday. He made the pivot on a third-inning double play, getting the throw despite being flattened.

In the fifth inning, Cora doubled and scored Seattle’s first run. In the eighth he singled, stole his first base of the year and scored.

“Joey lined out a couple of times (Wednesday) and showed signs of life again today (Thursday),” manager Lou Piniella said. “He’s worked real hard on the sidelines with (batting instructor) Lee Elia, and you’re starting to see the results. Joey works too hard not to succeed.”

Notes

A year ago, when Alex Rodriguez led the American League with 54 doubles, teammate Edgar Martinez had 52 - despite missing 23 games. This season, the two are running neck-and-neck for the team and the league lead. Martinez picked up his eighth double, tying Matt Williams of Cleveland for the A.L. lead. Rodriguez has seven doubles. … Norm Charlton began the trip with an earned-run average of 21.00, but comes home with a 6.00 ERA and has a win and four saves in Seattle’s 10-5 start. … The two wins in Detroit gave the Mariners as many wins here in two days as they’ve had in any season since 1990.