Guillen’s homer stuns Mariners

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The major league trading deadline came and went Saturday and the Seattle Mariners – against all odds – got worse.

Not by making a misguided trade, but by playing their 103rd game of the season nearly as well as they’d played any of the first 102, and still losing.

Riding a game-tying, ninth-inning home run from Ichiro Suzuki and an RBI single by Bret Boone in the 11th, Seattle grabbed an 8-7 lead and handed it to closer Eddie Guardado.

Eight pitches later, Jose Guillen’s two-run homer beat Guardado and the Mariners and gave the Anaheim Angels a 9-8 victory.

In a clubhouse that has seen 64 losses, this one seemed especially emotional.

Manager Bob Melvin closed his office to the media and kept it closed.

“It’s the Twilight Zone,” said Boone, shaking his head. “Look at how this game went. We’re up 5-0, they creep back into the game, tie it up and then go ahead.

“Then Ichiro hits that home run in the ninth and we tie it and you know that deflated them – and then we go ahead? That’s a tough one to lose right there.”

Across the clubhouse, the man who lost it sat with his head in his hands for a long moment before fielding questions.

“I can’t describe this,” Guardado said. “These guys played their hearts out today, and I … blow it? I don’t know what to tell you. I don’t know what’s going on. You hang a split-fingered fastball to a guy who can hit it 500 feet, that’s what happens.”

The distance may have been a bit off, but there was no doubt when Guillen hit that pitch it was gone, and that the M’s latest road game had become just another loss.

If you’re counting, they’ve lost 17 of their past 18 road games – and three times this past week lost 5-0 leads.

Twice, Guardado has had save opportunities and blown them. It’s Aug. 1, and he has seven blown saves this season. That’s more than he’s had in any one year.

Ichiro’s third hit of the day, his 51st in the month of July, opened the 11th inning, and Randy Winn bunted Ichiro to second base. Boone singled sharply into center field, and Seattle led, 8-7.

The Mariners had the lead and the man they wanted to close it, Guardado.

“He’s the toughest competitor I’ve ever been around,” Putz said.

“Eddie’s been one of the few bright spots on this team,” Boone said. “He’s done this and done it well, but this stuff happens. Everyone in here feels for Eddie. You couldn’t make this season up.”