Mariners Win on Sexson's Ninth Inning Blast

Embattled slugger turns boos to cheers with 19th home run.

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SEATTLE - The first and last times first baseman Richie Sexson batted Monday night elicited loud and prolonged cheers from the fans at Safeco Field.

And when he struck out in his second and third at-bats, a few of the boo-birds returned.

Overall, though, the good vibes outweighed the bad ones on this night, and after the final pitch was thrown, almost all of the 39,902 fans were on their feet watching Sexson circle the bases after blasting a leadoff walk-off home run in the ninth, giving the Mariners a hard-earned 4-3 victory over the Twins.

"I haven't heard cheers here for a long time," Sexson said. "That was nice. It was real nice."

Sexson's 19th home run of the season came on the second pitch he saw from right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier. Sexson's fifth career walk-off home run kept the Mariners tied with the Yankees for the American League Wild Card lead and moved Seattle (66-50) within three games of the AL West-leading Angels and a season-high 16 games over .500.

Right-hander Felix Hernandez outdueled Venezuelan countryman Johan Santana for six innings, departing with a two-run lead, but had to settle for a no-decision because the Twins scored two runs in the top of the seventh off newcomer John Parrish, who was making his first appearance at his new home after being acquired from the Orioles last week.

And, yes, the fans booed him as he departed three batters into the inning.

And therein resides a mystery that the players can't quite grasp.

"We've talked about it as a team," Sexson said. "Every little thing we do wrong, they boo. It has been three or four years since we have won, now we're winning, and we're still getting booed.

"We have to blow that stuff off, and love to play here. We're winning games and still get negative vibes. Typically, that's not how Seattle rolls."

Sexson accepts his own fate.

"I dug my own grave here with the fans," he said. "They want me to be good and it's frustrating to put so much time and effort into it to try to be good and sometimes it doesn't happen. They don't see that side of it."

The fans see a $14 million yearly contract and a batting average barely above .200.

It actually has been below .200 most of the season. But Sexson's six-game hitting streak has raised his batting average to .210. Meanwhile, his 19 home runs lead the team and his 58 RBIs are the fourth-highest total.

Not that he's going to run for mayor or anything, but Sexson's popularity hit the roof when his drive into left-center cleared the fence and sailed into the bullpen -- near the mound where left-hander George Sherrill was getting ready to pitch the 10th inning.

"That was great to see, but the ball almost hit me," Sherrill said. "I was warming up, saw it coming and had time to get out of the way."

As for the significance of the home run, Sherrill echoed the sentiments of just about everyone in the clubhouse: "Huge for us, huge for him."

It was a most productive night for Sexson, who drove in three of the Mariners' four runs -- the first two coming in the first inning when his drive into almost the exact same spot caromed off the wall for a two-run double.

"I've hit four or five balls off the wall the past week alone," he said. "I've been getting topspin on the ball, but the last one [the game-winner] had some backspin and it went out."

What went through his mind as he circled the bases?

"Game over, get some dinner," he said.

"I really feel good for big Rich," manager John McLaren said. ""It's not a good feeling to be booed. It's a very humbling experience. He has been working hard behind the scenes, had a good road trip [8-for-21] and for him to do that the first night back, I'm really happy for him. It's huge."

Criticized by some for sticking with the 6-foot-8 slugger, McLaren realizes the importance of having a productive Sexson down the stretch.

"He can carry this club," Mac said. "He can carry it by himself."

But Sexson had some help in the series opener against the Twins, most noticeably from second baseman Jose Vidro, who contributed three hits.

And, although Hernandez didn't notch his ninth win of the season, he threw 110 pitches and received a firm pat on the back from his manager.

"Felix really worked hard on those 110 pitches," McLaren said. "That's why I didn't send him back out [for the seventh inning]."

Hernandez needed 31 pitches to get through the first inning and about half of them came after Vidro bobbled a ground ball with two outs for an error.

Torii Hunter lashed a single to right field to make things even more difficult for Hernandez, but finally, on the 10th pitch to Justin Morneau, Hernandez struck out the AL's reigning Most Valuable Player on a high heater.

"I knew it was going to be a hard game for us against Santana and after that first inning, I just wanted to throw strikes," Hernandez said. "I tell you one thing -- those guys sure fouled off a lot of pitches."

Hernandez said he felt fine after the sixth inning and wanted to pitch the seventh.

"The tough inning for me was the first one," he said.

Designated hitter Raul Ibanez, named earlier in the day as the American League's Player of the Week after batting .481 (13-for-27) on the six-game road trip to Baltimore and Chicago, started a new week with another hit -- a two-out single to center field during a two-run first inning.

Sexson followed with drive off the wall in left-center, scoring Ibanez from first base and Jose Guillen from second, beginning a productive night.

"On the road, I got rolling a little and I'll try to keep it going at home," Sexson said. "It's not how you start, but how you finish. That's my goal."

And, yes, he still expects to receive some boos along the way.

"I'm sure tomorrow if I make an out or hit into a double play, I'll probably [get booed]."

Story by: Jim Street

Courtesy: MLB.com

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