Mariners 8, Rangers 4

SEATTLE – Australian left-hander Travis Blackley won his major league debut, and Randy Winn drove in three runs to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 8-4.

Ichiro Suzuki and Bret Boone each had two doubles among their three hits. Seattle finished with six doubles and 12 hits, gaining a split of the four-game series with the AL West-leading Rangers.

The 21-year-old Blackley (1-0), who had spent this season at Triple-A Tacoma, allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings. He walked three and struck out one.

Ron Villone and Shigetoshi Hasegawa finished with 3 1-3 innings of hitless relief.

Blackley got plenty of offense, too, because the Mariners had their bats going early. They jumped on Texas starter John Wasdin (1-1) for three runs in a 30-pitch first inning. Seattle had four hits in the first, highlighted by Winn’s RBI double.

It didn’t hurt Blackley, either, that he spent time in the dugout between innings chatting with staff ace Jamie Moyer, another lefty.

After trading All-Star right-hander Freddy Garcia last weekend, Seattle general manager Bill Bavasi promised fans they’d get to see the pitching talent that has been stockpiled in the minor leagues.

Blackley didn’t disappoint, using his curveball and off-speed pitches to set up an 86 mph fastball. The Texas hitters hadn’t seen him before, and it showed when Blackley breezed through the early innings.

His first walk wasn’t issued until Ken Huckaby got on base in the third, and Blackley didn’t give up a hit until Michael Young’s double in the fourth.

Blackley left after allowing a three-run homer to Hank Blalock with two outs in the sixth. The left-hander received an enthusiastic standing ovation as he came off the field while Villone trotted in from the bullpen.

Blackley became the sixth Seattle pitcher to win his major league debut. The others were Joel Pineiro (2000), Garcia (1999), Bob Wolcott (1995), Mark Langston (1984) and Matt Young (1983).

Suzuki, 1-for-6 lifetime against Wasdin before the game, had two doubles and a single in his three at-bats before the right-hander departed after 2 2-3 innings. Wasdin allowed seven runs and eight hits.

Edgar Martinez had fans on their feet after he greeted Doug Brocail with an RBI single in the seventh. Martinez lined the first pitch he saw for a two-out single that scored John Olerud to make it 8-4.

Notes: Seattle’s six doubles were the most allowed by the Rangers all season. … Former University of Washington WR Reggie Williams, a first-round NFL draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … Two of Boone’s hits required scoring reviews: a third-inning dribbler where C Huckaby initially was charged with an error and a fourth-inning shot past Blalock at third. … Blackley threw 64 of his 108 pitches for strikes.

AP-ES-07-01-04 1932EDT