Minneapolis, MN – Dustin Ackley hit a three-run home run while Hisashi Iwakuma pitched six solid innings to help the Seattle Mariners take a 5-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in the second contest of a four-game series.
Iwakuma (5-3) won his third straight decision as he gave up just one unearned run on one hit with four walks and four strikeouts for the Mariners, who have taken the first two of this set after getting swept by the White Sox. Kyle Seager hit a two-run double in the win.
Ben Revere and Ryan Doumit each drove in a run for the Twins, who have lost seven of eight. Scott Diamond (10-6) gave up all five runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts over seven innings in the loss.
"It's frustrating and it's obviously not where we want to be," said Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire. "This time of year you want to play better the last month and have something to build on, but it feels like we've taken a step backwards."
With the game scoreless in the third, the Mariners went ahead. With one out, Brendan Ryan doubled and Franklin Gutierrez walked two batters later. Seager then doubled to right and both runners crossed the plate for a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota got one back in the bottom of the inning. Jamey Carroll led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Following a walk to Pedro Florimon Jr., a passed ball put runners at second and third. Revere's sac fly scored Carroll, but the next two batters recorded outs to end the inning.
In the fifth, the Mariners used the long ball to go ahead by four. Trayvon Robinson led off with a single and Ryan followed with a base hit. Ackley then belted a pitch over the wall in right-center for his 10th homer of the year and a 5-1 lead.
"That was the at-bat I was looking for all night because I had the two runners on," said Ackley. "Any time you can help the team out and take a four-run lead, it's an important time. I've been feeling pretty good over the past few weeks and have been hitting more consistently."
Oliver Perez and Josh Kinney worked the seventh, while Kinney pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.
In the ninth, Charlie Furbush came on to close the game, but gave up a one-out single by Josh Willingham and, after striking out Justin Morneau, an RBI double by Doumit to make it a three-run game.
Tom Wilhelmsen then came on the mound and walked Trevor Plouffe to bring the tying run to the plate, but Carroll flied out to end the game and give Wilhelmsen his 20th save of the season.
Game Notes
Since losing the first game this season against Minnesota, the Mariners have taken seven straight over the Twins...Both teams left six men on base...Seager has 53 RBI in 67 road games this season.
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