CINCINNATI – Joe Saunders pitched seven efficient innings and Nick Franklin and Justin Smoak each homered to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
A day after the Reds scored 13 runs, they managed just six hits and a run off Saunders. The left-hander allowed only two baserunners to reach third in the first six innings and retired 11 consecutive batters before Chris Heisey doubled into the left field corner with one out in the fifth inning.
Saunders (7-8) walked none and struck out two while winning back-to-back starts for the first time this season.
Charlie Furbush pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Tom Wilhelmsen was perfect in the ninth for his 18th save, helping the Mariners pick up their second win of the three-game series and improve to 10-2 against the Reds since interleague play began in 1997.
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