Moyer proves to be hit in interleague play

PITTSBURGH — Jamie Moyer left the National League behind long ago. That doesn’t mean he forgot an N.L. pitcher sometimes needs to be a hitter, too.

Moyer pitched six effective innings and hit a two-run single, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Moyer (6-2) hasn’t pitched in the N.L. since 1991, but he seems to enjoy facing his old league. He’s allowed one run in 13 innings in consecutive interleague starts, shutting out the Expos for seven innings in a 3-0 victory Saturday.

He’s also remembered how to swing the bat, delivering a bases-loaded single over third base in a three-run second inning for his first two RBIs in 16 years. Moyer isn’t a bad-hitting pitcher — he hit .230 for the Cubs in 1987 — but had only four career RBIs before Friday.

“I told him to wear spikes tomorrow night, we might need a left-handed bat,” Mariners manager Bob Melvin said. “All joking aside, as good as his hitting was, his pitching might have been better, and I think we’re getting used to seeing that.”

Moyer, a 21-game winner last season, isn’t pitching like he’s 41. He is 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA in his last six starts, and the Mariners are 8-1 in his past nine starts.

The left-hander struck out four, walked one and allowed three hits in his first start in Pittsburgh since May 21, 1991, when he gave up two homers to Barry Bonds while pitching for St. Louis.

Julio Mateo worked a scoreless seventh before the Mariners needed three pitchers to get through a two-run eighth.