Moyer Helps Mariners Do It Again Lefty Has Another Strong Outing While Seattle Bats Belt Anaheim

The way Jamie Moyer has pitched for the Seattle Mariners since last August, it’s remarkable that the left-handed control specialist had to spend nearly two full seasons in the minor leagues in the middle of his career.

Moyer has given the Mariners consistent starts all year and did once again Thursday beating the Anaheim Angels, 6-3, at the Kingdome.

The victory, which gave Seattle its largest lead ever atop the American League West division at 4-1/2 games, pushed Moyer’s season record to 7-2. He is 13-4 since he came to Seattle in a midseason trade with Boston for Darren Bragg last year.

Moyer, playing for his sixth major league team, has a career high of 13 wins but is 17-4 in his last 31 starts, about the equivalent of a full season.

After first reaching the big leagues with Cubs in 1986, Moyer had stints with Texas and St. Louis before signing with Detroit and spending the entire 1992 season at AAA.

“I fought to even get a job,” Moyer said. “I got released in spring training (by the Cubs). I looked at that as my last opportunity. The fun turned into more fun. I learned a lot about pitching and myself and ran with it.”

The year with the Toledo Mud Hens resurrected his career and since then with Baltimore, the Red Sox and Seattle, he is 45-27 and his career mark is approaching .500 at 79-81.

“You always hear left-handers mature a little late,” Moyer said. “I think I fit that category. I’ve grown as a pitcher learned what I can do and can’t do.”

Moyer’s consistency is his strong suit. Thursday he went seven innings, giving up a two-run homer by Jim Leyritz. In 10 of his 12 starts this season, after opening the year on the disabled list with a muscle strain in his forearm, he has gone at least six innings.

“He gave us seven solid innings,” manager Lou Piniella said. “Our pitching now is starting to stabilize very well. That’s helped immensely.”

His only real substandard start was his last one in which he couldn’t get out of the fourth inning in Texas. Moyer received a no-decision, though, when Seattle rallied for a 15-8 win.

“I felt I needed this outing tonight,” Moyer said. “In Texas, I didn’t throw the ball well at all. I had to figure out why and move forward with that.”

Helping Moyer move on was plenty of offensive support via the home run, as Seattle pounded three pitches to the cheap seats.

Joey Cora whipped a 3-1 fastball over the right-field fence to lead off the first inning. The fourth career leadoff homer gave him a career-high seven home runs this season.

Jose Cruz Jr. was next. He hit his fifth home run, a two-run shot the opposite way to left field, in the second inning to make it 3-0.

Paul Sorrento made it a trifecta when he reached the second deck beyond the right-center field power alley in the third.

All three homers came off of Angels starter Jason Dickson (8-4), who is considered a prime candidate for Rookie of the Year, but hasn’t had much luck against the Mariners. He gave up six runs in a six-inning no decision against Seattle in May. Seattle’s left-handed hitters, led by Rob Ducey’s three doubles, were 10-for-14 against Dickson.

The seven home runs Seattle has hit in the past two games has put the team back in line to challenge last year’s total of 245 which was second-best in major league history. The Mariners have hit 81 home runs in their past 46 games.

The homers and Moyer’s performance allowed Piniella to turn the ball over to his rotating closers. Bobby Ayala and Norm Charlton combined to nail down the win. Charlton earned the save by leaving two runners on to end the game.

Notes

Ducey’s performance resulted in 12th time a Seattle player hit three double, the first since Edgar Martinez on May 11, 1996… . Seattle is 11-3 while All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez has been on the disabled list with a bruised chest. He is expected to be activated today… . With four games left this month, Seattle has a chance to have its best month in the 21-year history of the franchise, topping a 19-8 record in September 1995… . Seattle has won 16 of its last 24 home games against the Angels.