Bedard Helps Mariners Halt Skid

Lefty struggles but does enough to stop 4-game slide
By Doug Sweeney,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 8, 2008 10:28 PM CDT
Bedard Helps Mariners Halt Skid
Seattle Mariners starter Erik Bedard pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 8, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Fla.    (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Moving from Baltimore to Seattle hasn't changed Erik Bedard's mastery of Tampa Bay. The left-hander, acquired in an offseason trade, struggled through six innings but got enough support from the Mariners' sputtering offense to ruin the Rays' home opener with a 6-5 win. Bedard (1-0) allowed five runs and five hits while improving to 11-3 in 19 career starts against Tampa Bay.

Richie Sexson drove in three runs, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the third and hitting a two-run single off Gary Glover (0-1) in the sixth. In both situations, the Rays walked Raul Ibanez intentionally to load the bases so they could pitch to Sexson. Brad Wilkerson also had a two-run single for the Mariners. (More baseball stories.)

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