Seattle, WA – Scott Kazmir threw eight dominant innings to help lead the Cleveland Indians past the Seattle Mariners, 10-1, in order to salvage the finale of a three-game set at Safeco Field.
Kazmir (6-4), who remains unbeaten in his last eight outings, made sure he wasn't lost in Cleveland's offensive outburst. He scattered just one hit with two walks while fanning seven and allowed an unearned run.
"I feel like I've found what I've been looking for over these last couple starts," said Kazmir. "Everything is going good out there."
Michael Bourn crushed his first career grand slam, tying a single-game career- high with four RBI. Asdrubal Cabrera had a very productive day at the plate as well with a solo home run, three RBI and four runs scored. Carlos Santana finished with two doubles while driving in two runs.
After winning his last four starts, Joe Saunders (9-9) was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits and three walks in just 4 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.
"I felt like I was all over the plate today," said Saunders. "We just got outplayed out there."
Nick Franklin and Justin Smoak recorded the only hits for the Mariners, who had a season-best eight game win streak snapped.
The Indians jumped out to an early three-run advantage in the first. Bourn beat out an infield single and Nick Swisher worked a walk. Both runners advanced one base on a sacrifice bunt. Cabrera smacked a two-run double to center and Santana followed up with an RBI ground-rule double to left.
After making a pretty grab for a force out at second, Cabrera's two-out throwing error to second a batter later on a Michael Saunders' grounder allowed Seattle's lone run to score in the second.
In the third, Saunders returned the favor when he misjudged Cabrera's flyball right at him in center. Cabrera came around to score on a Santana line drive double to left.
Bourn opened the game up in the fifth with just one swing. After a two-out single and walk, Saunders was replaced by Hector Noesi, who walked Drew Stubbs before Bourn's blast to right-center field.
Cabrera stroked a solo shot into the right-field seats in the sixth, making it a 9-1 game.
Mark Reynolds grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the ninth to account for the final margin.
Game Notes
Kazmir has allowed three runs or fewer in seven straight starts ... The Indians are currently 13-4 against teams from the AL West ... It was Cabrera's second career four-run game ... Seattle finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, while Cleveland went 6-for-17 ... Saunders suffered his fourth loss in 19 career starts at Safeco Field.
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