M's ride Gutierrez's bat, glove to win

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Franklin Gutierrez saved the Seattle Mariners with his bat and then with his glove. Gutierrez drove in the go-ahead run to cap a three-run ninth inning and then made a leaping catch against the wall in right-center field as the Mariners ended a four-game skid with a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Franklin Gutierrez saved the Seattle Mariners with his bat and then with his glove.

Gutierrez drove in the go-ahead run to cap a three-run ninth inning and then made a leaping catch against the wall in right-center field as the Mariners ended a four-game skid with a 4-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Gutierrez's spectacular grab came with one out in the ninth when he ranged into the gap to rob Elvis Andrus of extra bases.

"It was a tough catch, definitely," said Gutierrez, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, dating to last season. "He hit it good. The ball was pretty much over the fence so I knew I had to take a chance to jump and see if I could catch the ball. It was big at that time because if I don't catch the ball, it's a (inside-the-park homer) and they tie the game."

Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki was impressed.

"It's a very tricky park in that corner so it's a tough play," Suzuki said through an interpreter. "It happens in an instant. You can only make that play in an instant. He's desperate to catch that ball."

Seattle's comeback came against closer Frank Francisco, who blew his second-straight save opportunity. Francisco (0-2) allowed three runs and three hits while retiring only one batter.

Texas manager Ron Washington was noncommittal when asked if Francisco had lost his job.

"Stay tuned," he replied.

Suzuki, Ken Griffey Jr. and Gutierrez had consecutive RBI singles in the ninth for Seattle.

Casey Kotchman led off with a single, Rob Johnson walked and Jack Wilson sacrificed the runners to second and third. Suzuki singled up the middle to make it 3-2 and Ken Griffey Jr.'s pinch-hit single to center drove in Johnson to tie it at 3 and chase Francisco. Gutierrez followed with a single between third and short off Darren O'Day to give the Mariners the lead.

Seattle Texas

ab r h bi ab r h bi

ISuzuki rf 5 1 2 1 Borbon cf 5 0 1 1

Figgins 2b 4 1 1 0 MYong 3b 4 0 0 0

GrffyJr ph 1 0 1 1 Hamltn lf 2 0 1 0

Tuia pr-2b 0 0 0 0 Guerrr dh 4 0 0 0

FGtrrz cf 5 0 3 1 N.Cruz rf 4 1 1 1

JoLopz 3b 5 0 1 0 C.Davis 1b 3 0 0 0

Bradly lf 4 0 0 0 J.Arias 2b 3 1 3 0

MSwny dh 3 0 0 0 ABlanc 2b 1 0 0 0

Ktchm 1b 3 1 1 0 Tegrdn c 2 1 0 0

RJhnsn c 3 1 1 0 DvMrp ph 1 0 0 0

JWilson ss 3 0 2 0 Andrus ss 3 0 1 0

Totals 36 4 12 3 Totals 32 3 7 2

Seattle 100 000 003 - 4

Texas 000 021 000 - 3

E-Figgins (1). DP-Seattle 1, Texas 1. LOB-Seattle 9, Texas 7. 2B-Ro.Johnson (1). 3B-Hamilton (1). HR-N.Cruz (4). S-J.Wilson, Andrus.

IP H R ER BB SO

Seattle

F.Hernandez 7 7 3 2 1 5

M.Lowe W,1-1 1 0 0 0 2 0

Aardsma S,2-2 1 0 0 0 0 2

Harrison 6 6 1 1 1 4

Nippert H,1 1 2 0 0 0 1

N.Feliz H,2 1 0 0 0 0 1

Franc. L,1-2 BS,2-2 1/3 3 3 3 1 0

O'Day 2/3 1 0 0 0 0

HBP-by F.Hernandez (Teagarden), by Harrison (M.Sweeney). WP-F.Hernandez, Harrison.

Umpires-Home, Ed Rapuano; First, Todd Tichenor; Second, Ron Kulpa; Third, Lance Barksdale.

T-2:53. A-26,861 (49,170).