NEW YORK, 31 May 2004 — Raul Ibanez homered and Freddy Garcia finally got some offensive support to win his third game, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox in American League play at Fenway Park on Saturday.
Garcia (3-3) entered the game with the lowest ERA in the AL despite earning just two wins, but the Mariners provided some rare support for him after managing just 20 runs in his first nine starts.
Seattle jumped into a 5-0 lead and when Garcia faltered, the Mariners bullpen came on to hold the lead for him as the Red Sox lost for only the third time in the last 11 games.
Garcia went 5 2/3 innings, as the Red Sox struck for three runs in the fourth and a single in the sixth. He allowed four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks in one of his less impressive starts of the season.
Mike Myers came on and struck out all three batters he faced before Shigetoshi Hasegawa got the next four outs.
Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth to finish up and record his ninth save.
Dan Wilson had a two-run double and two hits for the Mariners, who managed 11 hits off four Boston pitchers.
Ichiro Suzuki and Dave Hansen both added two hits to the Seattle attack.
Tim Wakefield (4-3) allowed five runs on 10 hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings to take the loss. Manny Ramirez hit a home run and singled for Boston, while Kevin Millar had a pair of hits.
In other games, Dennys Reyes pitched seven strong innings for his first win since 2002 as the Kansas City Royals eased past the Minnesota Twins 5-2. Reyes (1-0) allowed two runs - one earned - on six hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.
Jeremy Affeldt pitched the ninth for his third save, while Matt Stairs homered and Carlos Beltran drove in three runs for the Royals.
In Toronto, Miguel Batista pitched eight strong innings to guide the Toronto Blue Jays to their fifth straight win, 6-2 over the Texas Rangers. Batista (3-4) allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Eric Hinske had two hits, including a two-run single, and Reed Johnson homered for the Blue Jays. Carlos Delgado left the game in the fifth inning with a rib injury.
Juan Dominguez (0-1) allowed three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings after being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on Friday.
Aaron Sele allowed four hits over 6 1/3 innings as the Anaheim Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 5-1. Sele (4-0) allowed one run with six strikeouts and two walks.
In Cleveland, Travis Hafner had three hits and drove in three runs to guide the Indians to an 8-6 win over the Oakland Athletics.
Jody Gerut drove in a pair of runs for Cleveland.
David Riske (1-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the win before Jose Jimenez pitched the ninth for his first save.
