The Associated Press
Mark McLemore couldn't come up with this catch, but helped the Mariners rally by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the seventh inning as Seattle picked up its first win of the season with a 7-4 triumph over the White Sox on Tuesday.

M's grab win No. 1

Four-run seventh inning lifts Seattle to victory over Sox

JIM COUR, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Wednesday, April 3, 2002

SEATTLE -- Bret Boone expected the Seattle Mariners' comeback.

"I thought it was typical of this team," Boone said after the Mariners rallied for four runs in the seventh inning off Chicago's bullpen for a 7-4 victory Tuesday night.

Mark McLemore and Mike Cameron drew bases-loaded walks in Seattle's rally.

The White Sox took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh on Kenny Lofton's two-run single off Arthur Rhodes. But Chicago used five pitchers in the bottom half as the Mariners sent 10 batters to the plate.

Lorenzo Barcelo (0-1) started the inning, and McLemore's walk off Damaso Marte brought in Dan Wilson with the tying run. Bret Boone's single off Bob Howry put the Mariners ahead 5-4.

Boone pointed out the Mariners rallied for four runs in the eighth in a 6-5 loss in Monday's opener against the White Sox.

"We weren't able to put them away yesterday, but today we came back like we've done since I've been here," Boone said. "It's nice to get the first win under our belts."

Edgar Martinez's sacrifice fly drove in Ichiro Suzuki before reliever Mike Porzio walked two for Seattle's final run of the inning.

The comeback allowed the Mariners, winners of a major league record-tying 116 games last season, to avoid opening the 2002 season at 0-2.

Seattle's bullpen, the strength of the team last season, gave up a 3-2 lead in the seventh.

The White Sox loaded the bases off Jeff Nelson on singles by Paul Konerko, Jose Valentin and Carlos Lee. Nelson struck out Sandy Alomar and got Royce Clayton to fly out to shallow center, but Rhodes gave up a single to Lofton.

Rhodes (1-0), who was 8-0 last season, was the winning pitcher. Kazuhiro Sasaki got a save.

Rhodes has a career-high 10-game winning streak.

"To tell you the truth, it feels good," Rhodes said. "I didn't want it to happen like that. But, hey, we came back and scored four runs and everything came out OK."

Chicago starter Todd Ritchie pitched six innings, allowing three runs and six hits. He struck out seven.

In six innings, Mariners starter Jamie Moyer gave up one earned run and four hits. He walked none and struck out five.

The temperature was 50 degrees when the game began. Moyer said he wasn't uncomfortable, but suspected the hitters were.

"I have a feeling the weather affects the hitters more than it does the pitchers," he said. "You're out for half an inning standing out in the field only probably able to blow in their hands and then come in and grab a bat."

The White Sox scored a run in the first when Ray Durham singled, stole second and Magglio Ordonez doubled.

Seattle tied the score in the bottom of the inning on McLemore's single and Boone's double.

In the third, the Mariners scored two runs after McLemore doubled and Boone walked. On a double steak, McLemore scored and Boone took third when Alomar's throw went into left field. Martinez singled in Boone to make the score 3-1.

M's 7, White Sox 4

- Record: 1-1.

- Today: Chicago (Garland 0-0) at Seattle (Abbott 0-0), 7 p.m. (FSN).

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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