CLEVELAND – Mike Carp and the Seattle Mariners made the most of their cross-country trip for a makeup game.
Carp hit a grand slam into the second deck in right field and drove in five runs during Seattle’s nine-run third inning, leading the Mariners to a rain-shortened 12-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
“It was worth it, to come back from a deficit, get a big inning and get a nice win,” Carp said.
The Mariners came in to make up a rainout from May 15, and played in a steady drizzle before the field was covered at the start of the eighth. After a 44-minute wait, the game was called.
“It’s very unusual,” Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. “Everybody has to do it from time to time. It’s a quick in and out. The geography works OK for us since we head to Minnesota from here, so it’s not horrible. It’s big-league baseball. They want everyone to play 162 (games). I respect that. I get that.”
Carp drove Chad Durbin’s 1-1 pitch 455 feet to right to put Seattle ahead 11-4. He doubled home the first run in the inning off David Huff (2-6).
“Last time I faced (Durbin) in the same situation, bases loaded, he struck me out,” Carp said. “This time, I looked for a fastball inside. He threw a cutter and I put a good swing on it.”
The Mariners’ third was their biggest inning of the season, surpassing a six-run outburst April 27 at Detroit.
SHORT HOPS
Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik announced former Mets and Padres GM Joe McIlvaine has joined the Mariners as a special assistant. … Carp’s career-high five RBI tied Seattle’s season high by shortstop Brendan Ryan and first baseman Justin Smoak. … Ryan (neck) and outfielder Casper Wells (undisclosed illness) stayed in Seattle, undergoing tests. … Seattle second baseman Dustin Ackley, in a 4-for-39 slump, did not play. … Seattle starter Charlie Furbush is 3-6 in 10 games since being acquired from Detroit on July 30. … Seattle rookie Kyle Seager went 2-for-4 and hit .706 (12 of 17) with five doubles and six runs in four games against Cleveland this year.
ON TAP
Seattle opens a three-game set at 5:10 p.m. (PDT) today in Minnesota. The Mariners will send left-hander Jason Vargas (8-13, 4.38 ERA) to the mound against righty Liam Hendriks (0-2, 6.00).
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