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Mariners Edge Orioles, 6-5

Posted on: Wednesday, 9 July 2003, 06:00 CDT

Joel Pineiro won his fifth straight start and Ichiro Suzuki hit a leadoff homer to lead the Seattle Mariners over Baltimore 6-5 Tuesday night, the Orioles 15th loss in 16 games at Safeco Field.

Pineiro (10-5), unbeaten in five starts since June 11, joined Jamie Moyer (11-5) and Gil Meche (10-4) as the Mariners' third 10-game winner. It's the first time three Mariners reached 10 wins before the All-Star break.

Pineiro, who left with a 6-1 lead, gave up five hits and four walks in six innings, lowering his ERA to 3.32.

Suzuki hit the second pitch by Jason Johnson (7-4) for his ninth leadoff homer, third this season. With eight homers, he's matched his totals for each of his first two years in the AL.

Mike Cameron and Mark McLemore singled starting the second, Jeff Cirillo sacrificed, and No. 9 hitter Dan Wilson doubled into the right-field corner.

Bret Boone had a two-run triple in the sixth, and Edgar Martinez singled in Boone off Rick Bauer.

Melvin Mora had an RBI groundout in the third, and the Orioles closed with four runs in the eighth.

Jay Gibbons had an RBI single off Arthur Rhodes, Deivi Cruz added a two-run single against Jeff Nelson and pinch-hitter David Segui singled in a run off Shigetoshi Hasegawa.

Hasegawa, Seattle's closer until Kazuhiro Sasaki returns from the disabled list, got four outs for his fourth save in four opportunities.

Johnson allowed five runs, 10 hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings.

In a game that featured the AL's top two hitters, Mora (.355) went 0-for-4 and Suzuki (.350) was 2-for-5. Suzuki also stole his 24th base, one behind AL leader Alfonso Soriano of the New York Yankees.

McLemore, Martinez and Jeff Conine each had three hits for the Orioles.

Notes:@ Suzuki is hitting .587 (37-for-63) with two homers and eight RBIs against the Orioles. ... Of Suzuki's 24 career homers, 14 have been at Safeco. ... Johnson dropped to 1-5 against the Mariners, including 0-4 at Safeco. ... Freddy Garcia (9-7) would give the Mariners four 10-game winners if he beats the Orioles on Thursday night.

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