M’s match rally with rally

SEATTLE – Raul Ibanez drove in five more runs and the Mariners rallied in the bottom of the eighth off Twins closer Joe Nathan for an 8-7 win Tuesday night, dropping Minnesota out of first in the American League Central.

Jose Lopez lined a two-out, two-run double off Nathan to help Seattle retake the lead after the Mariners’ 6-3 lead evaporated in the top of the eighth.

The Twins scored four times in the eighth, capped by pinch-hitter Mike Lamb’s two-out, two-run double off Seattle closer J.J. Putz to take a 7-6 lead.

But that advantage was short-lived as the Twins’ bullpen again melted down on the road. Ichiro Suzuki led off the bottom of the eight with a single off Matt Guerrier (6-5) and after a pop up, Raul Ibanez dribbled his third hit of the night into right field.

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire went to Nathan for the final five outs. Nathan got a line out from Adrian Beltre before Lopez lined a 3-2 pitch into left-center. Ichiro easily scored and Ibanez frantically raced around from first ahead of Brendan Harris’ relay throw to the plate for the go-ahead run. It was Nathan’s third blown save of the season, and first since June 14.

Putz (4-4) struck out the first two batters of the ninth before walking Justin Morneau. Jason Kubel, who homered twice earlier, then doubled into the left-field corner, but Morneau was held at third as Ibanez quickly raced over to field the ball. Delmon Young was intentionally walked, and pinch-hitter Mike Redmond flew out to Ichiro to finish off the back-and-forth night.

Ibanez’s game-winning run capped another huge night for the Mariners left fielder, who was almost traded to Toronto at last week’s trade deadline. Ibanez ripped a three-run homer in the third, added a two-run single in the sixth and has 14 RBIs in his last three games, tying a franchise mark previously held by Ken Griffey Jr.

Ibanez had six RBIs in Seattle’s 10-run seventh inning on Monday night.

The performance from Ibanez seemed to set up Seattle for a sure victory, until Minnesota’s rally in the top of the eighth. It started with Morneau’s one-out double over the glove of a leaping Ichiro in right. Kubel then followed with his second homer of the night, a two-run shot off Seattle reliever Cesar Jimenez that pulled Minnesota within 6-5. Kubel hit a solo homer in the sixth off Seattle starter R.A. Dickey.

Jimenez was lifted for Roy Corcoran, who got the second out of the inning, but Corcoran allowed consecutive singles to Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris. Seattle manager Jim Riggleman went to Putz, who regained his spot as Seattle’s full-time closer Tuesday when the Mariners sent Brandon Morrow to Triple-A to begin his conversion to being a starter.

Ahead in the count 2-0, Lamb lined Putz’s pitch off the wall in right-center. It was just his second hit this season as a pinch hitter.

Dickey pitched seven solid innings, putting himself in line for a second consecutive win, but he was not part of the decision.