The Associated Press
James Baldwin allowed five hits in seven innings as the Mariners beat the Anaheim Angels 8-1 on Wednesday night.

M's hammer Sele; Baldwin dominates

Former Mariners pitcher struggles while his replacement throws gem

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Thursday, April 11, 2002

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- If James Baldwin felt any pressure as the pitcher who replaced Aaron Sele in the Seattle rotation, it didn't show on Wednesday night.

If anyone felt any pressure, it was Sele.

Baldwin allowed one run and five hits in seven innings as the Mariners defeated the Anaheim Angels 8-1.

Bret Boone and John Olerud helped fuel the offense with home runs against Sele in his first game against his former teammates.

Baldwin (2-0) did not allow a hit over his first 4 1/3 innings, after holding Oakland to a run and five hits over seven innings last Friday.

"I don't think there's any pressure on me," Baldwin said. "I only feel that I have to do what James Baldwin is capable of doing. I don't go out there and try to pitch like anyone else. I've just got to go out there and pitch my game. I just want to help these guys win ballgames."

Dan Wilson drove in three runs to help Seattle beat Anaheim for the 18th time in their last 22 games -- including 11 straight at Anaheim. Last season, the Angels finished a franchise-record 41 games behind the AL West-leading Mariners, who tied a major league record with 116 victories.

Sele (0-2), a two-time All-Star right-hander who left the Mariners to sign a $24 million, three-year contract with the Angels in December, made his second start for Anaheim and was pounded for seven runs and 10 hits in five innings.

"I've been on three other teams in the American League, so I've gone through that process where you go back and face your old teammates. And tonight was no different," Sele said.

"But you've got to play good baseball to beat anybody. And when you pitch the way I did tonight, you don't even give your team a chance to get out of the box. I threw a lot of balls right down the heart of the plate."

Wilson admitted that it was difficult for him to watch the pounding his ex-batterymate took -- despite the fact that he was inflicting some of it.

"It's tough, especially for a guy pitching against his former team because he really wants to perform well," Wilson said.

"It's tough to play against guys you've had a relationship with -- especially a pitcher-catcher relationship. But Aaron's a professional and he's going to have a great season with that club. I wish him the best."

M's 8, Angels 1

- Record: 6-3.

- Today: Seattle (Garcia 0-2) at Anaheim (Schoeneweis 1-0), 7 p.m.

- TV: FSN.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to Mariners 2002 index