SEATTLE — Robinson Cano had a two-run homer and Nelson Cruz doubled in two runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Chicago White Sox 8-6 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.
Seattle built a 7-1 lead through five innings, but the White Sox cut it to 7-6 with five runs in the sixth behind a pair of two-run homers.
Adam Eaton singled with one out in the sixth and scored on Tyler Saladino’s double. Jose Abreu followed with his 23rd home run. After Melky Cabrera grounded out, Avisail Garcia singled, chasing starter Taijuan Walker. Logan Kensing, called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Tacoma, relieved and allowed a two-run homer to Adam LaRoche, his 12th.
The Mariners added a run in the eighth on Ketel Marte’s sacrifice fly.
Walker (9-7) got the victory despite allowing five runs on seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. Tom Wilhelmsen pitched a perfect ninth for his third save. John Danks (6-11) was tagged for seven runs on eight hits in five innings, dropping his road record to 2-8.
Nelson Cruz doubled in two runs to key a four-run third as the Mariners erased a 1-0 deficit. Mark Trumbo doubled to open, advanced on Brad Miller’s sacrifice and scored on Jesus Sucre’s single. After Marte struck out, Austin Jackson singled and Cruz followed with a two-run double to right-center to make it 3-1. Franklin Gutierrez singled home Cruz.
In the fifth, Marte reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and came home on Jackson’s single to make it 5-1. With two out, Cano hit his 14th home run, a two-run shot over the wall in right.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the second when LaRoche lined a one-out double to right and Alexei Ramirez followed with an RBI single.
UP NEXT:
Red-hot Hisashi Iwakuma (5-2, 3.74) opens a three-game series at home against Oakland on Monday. Over his last four starts, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA, including a no-hitter against Baltimore on Aug. 12. The Athletics counter with left-hander Felix Doubront (0-0, 2.70 ERA).
TRAINER’S ROOM:
Mariners: RF Mark Trumbo, a last-minute scratch on Saturday night with a sore left knee, was back in the starting lineup. “He feels a lot better today,” manager Lloyd McClendon said.
CRUZ ON BASE (AGAIN)
Cruz’s third-inning double extended his on-base streak to a career-high 33 consecutive games.
