Fassero Wins; M’S Sweep Lefty Ends Skid With Relief Help From Wells As Seattle Runs Its Winning Streak To Five Straight Games

It had been one month exactly since he had won a game, a stretch that seemed even longer to Jeff Fassero because of the All-Star break - and the fact his bullpen had blown two victories for him since June 27.

So, sitting in the trainers room, icing his left arm and watching that same bullpen try to get the final six outs with a one-run lead?

“I’ve been more relaxed,” Fassero admitted, then caught himself. “I was completely confident we were going to get it done.”

The Seattle Mariners got it done Sunday, when Bob Wells closed out a brilliant start by Fassero with two shutout innings of relief. It sealed a 3-2 victory that gave the Mariners their first series sweep in New York.

“Ever?” asked Ken Griffey Jr. “Oh, my.”

Oh, my indeed - the Mariners officially are hot once again, stretching their winning streak to five games and pulling ahead in the American League West by 3-1/2 games.

“There was a lot of intensity in this series and in this game,” Seattle manager Lou Piniella said. “Our bullpen has settled down the last couple of weeks and given us some big outs.”

Want the definition of a big out? Try the two Wells got in the ninth inning after New York put a speedy runner on third base with one out - or the three Fassero got in the seventh inning after the Yankees put a man on third base with nobody out.

“Jeff Fassero has nine wins and ought to have 15,” said shortstop and birthday boy Alex Rodriguez, who turned 22 Sunday. “We’ve seen him lose games by blowing leads for him, he hasn’t always gotten run support, but I’ll tell you this - nobody is any better than Jeff. He’s something.”

Fassero was matched against Andy Pettitte, and early on, Piniella got the feeling it was going to be a tight game. So he did something some fans think no one does in the A.L., any more.

He managed.

When Jose Cruz Jr. and Rich Amaral singled to open the third inning, Piniella had leadoff hitter Joey Cora drop a sacrifice bunt to put both men in scoring position. Rodriguez singled home Cruz for a 1-0 lead.

Piniella didn’t stop there.

“We can’t ask for a straight steal against Pettitte because he has too good a move to first base, he’ll pick you off,” Piniella said.

“I gave Alex the sign to try a delayed steal, because the way they were set up defensively, if they throw to second, Richie probably steals home …”

Rodriguez, waiting until the ball was in the catcher’s glove on the pitch, took off for second and stole his 21st base without a throw. That brought Griffey to the plate.

“If there’s a right-hander pitching, Lou doesn’t call that steal, he leaves the hole open on the right side of the infield by keeping Alex at first base,” Griffey said. And Griffey singled to left field, driving in his 96th and 97th RBI of the season and giving Fassero a 3-0 lead.

Fassero (9-6) took a shutout into the seventh inning, when the Yankees pushed home two runs on Joe Girardi’s double to center - although had the Mariners handled Griffey’s relay throw to the infield properly, neither run might have scored.

Fassero pitched out of the inning, gave up a single to open the eighth inning and was relieved by Piniella. Wells struck out Charlie Hayes and got a double-play grounder from pinch hitter Ivan Cruz - except when Cora flipped the ball to Rodriguez at second base, the shortstop lost track of how many outs there were.

Wells got the next batter to end the inning.

In the ninth, Chad Curtis doubled to center field, where Griffey just missed the ball before it hopped over the wall.

The Yanks bunted Curtis to third base, and the Mariners responded by pulling the infield in. Derek Jeter grounded hard toward right field, but Cora made a diving stop - and Curtis didn’t break for the plate. Cora threw Jeter out.

Wells then retired Pat Kelly for his second career save.