Fair warning

Seattle strikes first in season rivalry with Oakland

James Baldwin enjoyed a strong outing in his first start as a Mariner. AP

SEATTLE (AP) -- The Seattle Mariners think James Baldwin is going to fit in nicely as Aaron Sele's replacement in their rotation.

Baldwin pitched seven strong innings in his Seattle debut and the Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 7-1 Friday night behind homers by Bret Boone and John Olerud.

"Baldwin pitched awfully well," manager Lou Piniella said. "He stayed ahead of most of the hitters and mixed his pitches very, very well. He stayed strong throughout the ball game."

Baldwin (1-0) gave up five hits, including a sixth-inning homer to rookie Carlos Pena. He walked one and struck out six.

"It was a beautiful start," Baldwin said. "It was just good to get that first one out of the way."

Baldwin went 10-11 for the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers last season before signing with the Mariners for $1.25 million this season. He underwent shoulder surgery after the 2000 season when he won 14 games for the White Sox and helped them get into the playoffs. Baldwin took a one-hopper off the bat of Miguel Tejada off his left foot for a hit in the fifth, but was OK. He waved off trainer Rick Griffin before Griffin could reach the mound.

"He told the trainer to get the heck out of there," Piniella said. "He competes very well. We've known that."

Baldwin said there was no way he was going to come out of the game.

"I didn't want nobody out there," he said. "I wanted to stay out there. Actually, it didn't hurt. When you're out there, you don't feel any pain."

Winning their third straight game after an Opening Day loss to the White Sox, the Mariners staked Baldwin to a 3-0 lead in the first.

After a one-out single by Mark McLemore, Boone hit his first homer of the season. Olerud followed one out later with his first homer of 2002.

Erik Hiljus (0-1) walked Boone and Edgar Martinez to open the third before Olerud doubled in Boone for his second RBI. Olerud went 3-for-4 with a homer and two doubles.

The Mariners scored their fifth run in the sixth on Mike Cameron's double, Jeff Cirillo's sacrifice and Ben Davis' single.

Cirillo added a two-run single in the seventh off Mike Magnante.

Starting his first game at catcher for the Mariners, Davis went 2-for-4. He was acquired in an offseason trade San Diego that sent shortstop Ramon Vazquez, catcher Tom Lampkin and pitcher Brett Tomko to the Padres.

"I'm going to be honest with you," said Davis, a switch-hitter who was bothered this spring with a strained oblique muscle in his right side. "I was a little nervous going out there. But it felt real good to get back in the saddle again."

The Mariners had three double plays, two of them started by second baseman Boone.

"We've got a great team," Boone said. "I look at this team and I don't see a weakness. Up and down. Every category. It's a good feeling going into the season."

Hiljus, who beat Seattle twice last season when he was 5-0, gave up five runs, seven hits and two walks in six innings.

Hiljus said Boone's 415-foot homer to left field on an 0-2 count was the difference in the game.

"It was a good pitch, but it was a bad pitch for the count," he said. "I needed to get it off the plate. I need to work better on my 0-2 pitches."

When the Mariners tied the major league record with 116 victories last season, they finished 14 games ahead of the A's in the AL West. Seattle was 10-9 against Oakland, which made the playoffs as the AL wild card.

Pena hit his third home run in his fifth major league game.

"I just got a good pitch to hit and I was able to put a good swing on it," Pena said.

Notes: Martinez tied Ken Griffey Jr. by scoring his 1,063rd career run for the Mariners. Martinez didn't know about his accomplishment until after the game. "I don't know what to say," he said. "I know Junior has been probably the key player in this organization for many years. I guess it is a milestone when you have a player like Junior with the kind of numbers he put up. It makes you feel good." ... Baldwin is 7-2 in his career against the A's. ... The Mariners also started Desi Relaford (SS) for the first time. ... The A's were minus 3B Eric Chavez for the second straight game because of tightness in his lower back. Oakland hopes to use him as its DH Sunday in the final game of the series. ... David Justice has a hit in each of the A's first five games. ... Safeco Field's retractable roof was closed for the first time this season because it was raining.

 

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