The Associated Press
Mariners center fielder Mike Cameron watches from the top of the wall as the home run ball of Chicago's Royce Clayton gets away from him and the fans on Wednesday night at Safeco Field.

M's rally in 9th to nip Sox

Guillen's third hit ties contest; Boone delivers game-winner

ELLIOTT SMITH, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Thursday, April 4, 2002

SEATTLE -- Carlos Guillen hadn't felt this good in a long time.

"I'm really happy," he said.

He had reason to be. Guillen played a critical role as the Mariners staged an improbable rally to knock off Chicago, 7-6, on Wednesday and take the series from the White Sox.

Looking out of it heading into the ninth inning, the moribund Mariners suddenly exploded, battering White Sox closer Keith Foulke for four runs, capped off by Bret Boone's single that scored Guillen from third base.

"It was unbelievable," Boone said. "It was awesome."

Guillen, the ninth man in the lineup, came up big time and again, and his two-run single off Foulke closed a 6-3 deficit to 6-5.

Ichiro Suzuki followed with an RBI single and then Boone parlayed one of his trademark tomahawk swings into a dramatic victory.

"It was nice to get the hit, but what led up to it was pretty awesome," Boone said. "Carlos has been awesome. I asked him if he leads the league in RBIs."

Guillen was a catalyst from the bottom of the lineup, going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs.

"Carlos had a big night," Seattle manager Lou Piniella said.

It was almost redemption for the shortstop, who struggled late last season before being diagnosed with tuberculosis.

"I was worried," he said. "I didn't think I would play again. But now I feel 100 percent. It's like a bad memory. It's in the past."

The Mariners once again took advantage of faulty relief by the White Sox, banging out six singles in the ninth to earn the win.

Included in the dramatic comeback were the first hits of new Mariners Ruben Sierra and Jeff Cirillo, who got on base right before Guillen's chopper down the right field line.

"We found some holes and got the job done," Piniella said. "They were all big hits. I'll tell you what, I'm going to enjoy my day off."

The rally bailed out Mariners starter Paul Abbott, who struggled mightily in his four innings of work, allowing six runs and five hits, including a three-run homer by Chicago's Royce Clayton.

"Abbott was all over the place tonight," Piniella said.

Abbott was a little more frank.

"That was a horrible pitching performance," he said. "I couldn't find a groove."

After Abbott's departure, Seattle relievers Joel Pineiro, John Halama and Ryan Franklin faced only one batter above the minimum in their five innings of work.

"We've got a great bullpen," Abbott said. "They know that if they can hold the other team close we can get a win. They showed it last year and they showed it tonight."

Chicago manager Jerry Manuel wishes his bullpen was as reliable. For the third straight game, his pen betrayed marvelous starting pitching.

This time the hard-luck pitcher was Dan Wright, who kept the Mariners in check over six strong innings of work only to see his win go up in flames.

"It's tough to explain," Manuel said. "The Mariners just kept chipping away and kept getting good at-bats. We were just out of reach for a couple of those hits. That makes for a tough loss."

The Mariners' flair for the dramatic hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, even in a new season.

"It's 6-3 and we look like we're dead and we come back," Boone said. "Ever since I've been here, it's happened. It hasn't changed. It makes you feel good."

Just ask Guillen, who skipped home with the winning run and walked around the clubhouse with the excited grin of a little kid.

"It was a big win for all of us," he said. "It's hard to beat this team."

Mariners 7, White Sox 6

- Record: 2-1.

- Friday: Oakland at Seattle, 7:05 p.m. (KIRO-7).

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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