Mariners suffer colossal collapse
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians tied a major-league record by coming back from a 12-run deficit to beat the Seattle Mariners, 15-14, in 11 innings last night in a game that was as much historic as it was histrionic.
In the 11th, Kenny Lofton, who had a one-out single off Jose Paniagua, scored from second base on Jolbert Cabrera's single to left field. Mark McLemore's throw to the plate was too late. The Mariners, a team that has won at a near-record pace this season, somehow blew a 12-0 lead.
"I bet you money that won't happen again. I don't think it's going (to happen) to our bullpen," said Mariners reliever Norm Charlton, one of seven Mariners pitchers battered by Cleveland. "Unbelievable. Every ball they hit fell in."
A 12-run comeback has happened only twice in major-league history, the last time 76 years ago. On June 15, 1925, the Philadelphia Athletics scored 13 runs in the eighth inning to beat Cleveland 17-15 despite trailing 14-2 in the sixth. On June 18, 1911, Detroit scored 15 runs in the final four innings to beat the Chicago White Sox 16-15, erasing a 13-1 deficit in the fifth.
The Mariners scored a season-high 14 runs, but the Indians put together a season-high 23 hits for season-high 15 runs in a game that was as exceptional as it was unexpected.
ESPN showed it to a national audience, although it might have lost many viewers before the frantic finish after Seattle took a 12-0 lead in the third.
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But the Indians scored 12 runs over the final three innings, including a five-run rally in the ninth — all with two outs — to tie the score at 14. They did it against three of the best short relievers — Charlton, Jeff Nelson and Kazu Sasaki — from one of baseball's best bullpens. Sasaki, who never expected to pitch in this one, came in with the Mariners leading 14-11, two on and two out. He walked Lofton, then Omar Vizquel fouled off two pitches at 3-and-2 and drilled a triple into the right-field corner to tie the score.
As Vizquel walked to the plate, Indians Manager Charlie Manuel told him, "Omar, if you're patient you can hit a triple down the line."
Said Vizquel, "I didn't really buy it. I told him something like, 'You're crazy.' Then I went up there and tried my best."
Mariners Manager Lou Piniella didn't think he'd have to use more than a couple of relievers to help starter Aaron Sele nail down his 13th victory.
"You never know about baseball, that's for damn sure. It was looking pretty secure," Piniella said. "We had two outs in the ninth and they scored five runs to tie it. Give them credit.
"It's almost impossible to do. But they did it. What can I say?"
In the second inning, the Mariners scored four runs off Cleveland starter Dave Burba, who had a 5-1 career record against the Mariners. His career earned-run average against Seattle jumped more than a point to 5.70.
Ichiro had a two-run single in the inning. That hit gave him 161 this season, tying him with Alvin Davis (1984) for the most by a Mariners rookie. Ichiro already has set the club rookie records for runs (92), stolen bases (38) and hitting streak (23) and is tied in triples (eight).
Then the Mariners sent 13 batters to the plate in their season-high eight-run third inning. Mike Cameron had a two-run double. Carlos Guillen had a two-run single. Two runs scored on Edgar Martinez's ground ball that went under the glove of shortstop Vizquel. Initially ruled a hit, the error was just the fifth for the eight-time Gold Glove winner.
Sele was sailing along at that point. There were no red flags. In fact, Piniella began clearing the field of his regulars. He replaced starters Ichiro with Charles Gipson in right field, John Olerud at first base with Ed Sprague and Martinez with Stan Javier.
Bret Boone initially had the night off, but he was finally pushed to duty in the 11th.
It wasn't until the seventh inning, when Sele (116 pitches) began to tire, that the atmosphere changed. Reliever John Halama, who had not pitched in 14 days, took over with two outs in the seventh. Cabrera touched him quickly for a two-run single.
The Indians scored four more times in the eighth, but their momentum stalled when Lofton was thrown out at plate trying to score on a wild pitch with only one out. Tom Lampkin scrambled for the ball, flipped it back to Charlton, who applied the tag.
Three innings later, however, Lofton would make another slide into the history books.
Bob Sherwin can be reached at 206-464-8286 or bsherwin@seattletimes.com.