Wednesday, May. 07, 2008

Padilla, Rangers baffle M's, 2-0

Seattle's offensive struggles continue against Texas' Vicente Padilla

By The Associated Press

Vicente Padilla allowed two hits over seven innings to outpitch Erik Bedard and Milton Bradley homered as the Texas Rangers beat the struggling Seattle Mariners, 2-0, on Wednesday night at Safeco Field.

Bradley hit his fourth home run in the sixth and scored both runs. Brandon Boggs had an run-scoring triple in the fourth.

Padilla (5-2), who has won three consecutive starts, walked two and struck out a season-high eight. He has allowed just one run in his last three starts, spanning 21 2/3 innings. He lowered his overall ERA to 3.02.

Padilla opened the game by hitting Ichiro Suzuki but he didn’t allow him to advance past first. In the second, Yuniesky Betancourt had a one-out single to center but he was eliminated on a double play.

The next 12 batters were retired by Padilla until Suzuki’s two-out single in the sixth. The hit raised Suzuki’s average against Padilla to .571 (16-for-28). But Padilla struck out Jose Lopez to end the inning. Lopez had been the toughest to strike out the American League, once every 20.9 at-bats.

Padilla ran into trouble of his own making in the seventh, walking the first two batters Raul Ibanez and Adrian Beltre, on 3-2 counts. He then struck out Jeff Clement, Betancourt and Wladimir Balentien.

Bedard, who allowed a couple harmless singles through three innings, yielded a one-out single to Bradley in the fourth. Then with two outs, Boggs pulled an high fastball into the left-center gap. Bradley scored easily and Boggs reached third without a throw.

Bradley hit an 0-1 pitch from Bedard into the left-field bullpen with two outs in the sixth.

C.J. Wilson came on in the ninth to pick up his eight save in nine opportunities.

The Mariners, who have lost seven of eight, have scored just one run since the third inning Monday. Over their past 23 innings, they have produced one run on 10 hits in 78 at-bats for a .128 average. They have had two hits in their last 16 opportunities with runners in scoring position.

The two hits were a season low for the Mariners. It’s the second time they have been shutout. It’s also the second shutout for the Rangers, both involving Padilla, who threw a complete game against Minnesota on April 27.

Mariners manager John McLaren was tossed in the second inning by home umpire Mark Wegner for arguing balls and strikes. It was his second ejection this season. His first one was April 24.

Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of personal/family issues.

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