Tony Overman/The Olympian
Seattle's Carlos Guillen hits a double down the third-base line, driving in two runs in the eighth inning of Monday's season opener against the Chicago White Sox at Safeco Field. Guillen's two-out hit pulled the Mariners to within 6-5, but the inning ended when Ruben Sierra grounded out with runners on second and third.

Tony Overman/The Olympian
The Mariners' Mark McLemore waits on deck during Monday's opener against Chicago at Safeco Field.

Stopped short

White Sox kill Mariners' comeback attempt

ELLIOTT SMITH, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Tuesday, April 2, 2002

SEATTLE -- Once again, solid pitching and timely hitting paved the way to victory.

Only this time it was the Chicago White Sox who used that formula for success, getting a strong effort from Mark Buehrle and late-inning offensive heroics to earn a 6-5 victory over the Mariners on Monday.

But the White Sox had to survive a furious Seattle rally to pick up the win, thwarting the Mariners in the eighth and ninth innings.

"We chipped away," Seattle second baseman Bret Boone said. "We had some opportunities."

That they did. The Mariners scored four runs in the eighth to close a 6-1 deficit, but with runners on second and third, pinch hitter Ruben Sierra chopped a weak grounder to Chicago pitcher Bob Howry to end the threat.

Then, in the ninth, the Mariners had another great chance to steal the win with Mark McLemore on third and Ichiro Suzuki on second with only one out.

But Boone grounded to the pitcher and Mike Cameron flied out to end the comeback attempt.

"We battled back and we had our chances, but we just didn't get the one big base hit that we needed," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said.

Seattle drops to 14-12 all-time on opening day, including losses in three of the last four seasons.

For the Mariners, who rode starting pitching and key hits to a record-tying 116 wins in 2001, it was a little taste of their own medicine.

"The White Sox have a good club," Piniella said. "They swing the bat well and Buehrle knows how to pitch."

Buehrle handcuffed the Mariners in his six innings of work, at one point retiring 12 straight batters. He allowed a leadoff single to Ichiro Suzuki and a second-inning home run to Mike Cameron before settling into a comfortable groove.

Mixing a solid fastball and a sharp curve, Buehrle was able to keep the Mariners guessing.

"He pitched great," Boone said. "He really mixed his pitches. He had a cutter, a two-seamer and a breaking ball. You have to give him credit."

Seattle starter Freddy Garcia wasn't particularly sharp, but he got the job done in his first five innings of work, keeping the White Sox off the board despite scattering five hits and allowing Chicago to advance runners to scoring position in three innings.

Playing with fire, however, burned Garcia in the sixth. He gave up three hits in the inning, including back-to-back doubles by Carlos Lee and Sandy Alomar, the latter of which scored two runs to give Chicago a 2-1 advantage.

After Garcia departed one batter into the seventh, Seattle was counting on Ryan Franklin to hold the line.

But the reliever couldn't find his stride, allowing a 2-run double by Paul Konerko, an RBI single by Jose Valentin and a long homer to Lee to give the White Sox a five-run cushion.

"They were right on what I was throwing," Franklin said. "It was not a good result. I just have to forget about it. It's the first game and I got it out of the way. I'll get it back going tomorrow."

All in all it was a frustrating day for Seattle, but one the Mariners weren't going to get too caught up with.

"It's always tough to lose the close ones," first baseman John Olerud said. "But we battled back."

White Sox 6, M's 5

- Record: 0-1.

- Today: Chicago White Sox at Seattle, 7 p.m. (FSN).

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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