Betancourt, Branyan help Mariners earn DH split with Chisox

[March 19, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Yuniesky Betancourt drove in five runs, Russell Branyan had a career-high five hits and the Seattle Mariners salvaged a doubleheader split by beating the Chicago White Sox 9-1 Tuesday night behind Felix Hernandez.

In the opener, Bartolo Colon pitched seven strong innings and Paul Konerko hit a two-run double, leading Chicago to a brisk 2-1 victory. At 1 hour, 52 minutes, it was the fastest game in the majors this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The White Sox won despite having as many hits (two) as errors.

"That's a miracle," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Betancourt matched a career high with four hits in the nightcap, including a three-run homer. Branyan finished 5 of 5 for the Mariners, who compiled a season-high 19 hits.

Hernandez (4-0) coasted through eight scoreless innings, striking out nine. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed four hits and one walk.

Chicago starter John Danks (2-1) yielded five runs and eight hits in four innings.

In the opener, Mariners starter Chris Jakubauskas (1-3) was a hard-luck loser in his first career complete game. The White Sox were held to seven hits on the day.

With one out in the second, Danks allowed back-to-back singles before Betancourt homered on a 2-2 pitch. It was his first of the season.

Betancourt added RBI singles in the fourth and seventh. Branyan had an RBI single in eighth.

Ichiro Suzuki opened the game with a single and scored on Mike Sweeney's single. Suzuki was 1 for 10 on the day.

Mariners reliever Roy Corcoran allowed an RBI single to Konerko in the ninth.

Colon (2-1) bounced back after struggling in his previous start at Baltimore. The burly right-hander allowed only an unearned run and four hits, pitching out of a jam in the seventh. He struck out six and walked one.

Matt Thornton tossed a perfect eighth and Bobby Jenks pitched around third baseman Josh Fields' error in the ninth for his fourth save. With runners on first and second, he struck out pinch-hitter Sweeney swinging and got pinch-hitter Wladimir Balentien on a fly to center.

The game was a makeup of Monday night's rainout.

Colon said the difference from his last start was pregame preparation.

"In the bullpen I felt warm, I felt prepared. In my last start in Baltimore I didn't feel like I warmed up enough before I started the game, but today I felt good. I felt really good coming out of the bullpen," he said.

Colon cruised through the first six innings, but ran into trouble in the seventh, partly because of an error by second baseman Brent Lillibridge.

Rob Johnson hit an RBI double that put runners at second and third, but Colon minimized the damage. Franklin Gutierrez fouled out and so did Betancourt -- after just missing a three-run homer down the left-field line.

Jakubauskas, making his third start in place of injured Ryan Rowland-Smith, retired his first 10 batters. He walked Fields in the fourth, then allowed a single to Carlos Quentin. With two outs, Konerko doubled down the left-field line.

"One negative. The ball I left out over the plate to Konerko and he hit it down the line," Jakubauskas said. "It's just one of those things. I missed my spot and it came back to bite us."

Ken Griffey Jr. returned to Chicago after playing 41 games for the White Sox last season and finished 1 for 4 with a double in the opener.

Notes: DH Jim Thome (sore heel) didn't play in either game. Guillen hopes to have the slugger back when the White Sox open a three-game series in Texas on Friday. ... 2B Chris Getz (broken middle finger on his right hand) took some batting practice before the game and said it went fine. Getz said the swelling had gone down and he hopes to play Wednesday. He has missed four consecutive games. ... Mariners C Kenji Johjima, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring, could return May 1 when he's eligible. Currently rehabbing in extended spring training in Arizona, Johjima did some catching and running on Monday and reported no problems.

[Associated Press]

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