SEATTLE – Kenny Rogers lost in his first game since attacking two cameramen.

Willie Bloomquist singled leading off the eighth inning and scored on an infield grounder, leading the Seattle Mariners over Rogers and the Texas Rangers 2-1 Sunday.

Jamie Moyer (7-3) won a matchup of starters in their 40s as Rogers (9-4) allowed two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings.

Rogers who retired his first 11 batters, broke a bone in his right hand when he punched a water cooler July 17 and gave up six runs in his next start, July 22 at the Los Angeles Angels. He then was skipped over for a turn, and last Wednesday threw an angry fit that sent a television cameraman to a hospital and prompted a police investigation.

Rogers was suspended for 20 games and fined $50,000 Friday by baseball commissioner Bud Selig. The players’ association appealed the penalty, allowing Rogers to continue playing until after a hearing and a decision.

Moyer gave up one run and four hits in eight innings and struck out five, allowing his only run when Gary Matthews Jr. homered on his first pitch of the game.

Seattle, which stopped a seven-game losing streak, cut Bret Boone before the game. The three-time All-Star second baseman was designated for assignment – Seattle has 10 days to trade Boone or place him on waivers.

With the score 1-all, Bloomquist singled to left leading off the eighth, and Pat Borders flied out after twice failing to get a bunt down. Bloomquist stole second as catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. lost his grip on the ball and took third on Ichiro Suzuki’s broken-bat single to shortstop.

Randy Winn hit a soft grounder to third baseman Hank Blalock, who threw to second in hopes of an inning-ending double play, but Winn beat the throw to first as Bloomquist scored. Raul Ibanez then singled to chase Rogers, who was booed by the crowd of 34,397 as he walked to the dugout. Rogers also was booed at the start of the game when his image was shown on the center-field screen.

Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth for his 20th save.

Matthews, who hit a game-ending home run left-handed with two outs in the ninth inning on Saturday night, homered right-handed on his first swing.

Seattle tied the score in the fifth after Jose Lopez, Boone’s replacement, doubled into the left-field corner leading off. He advanced on Bloomquist’s flyout to shallow right-center and scored on Borders’ single to deep shortstop.

Texas threatened in the sixth when Michael Young opened with a double and Mark Teixeira walked, but first baseman Scott Spiezio leaped to catch Blalock’s line drive, Alfonso Soriano flied out and Kevin Mench popped out.

Notes: Texas leads the major leagues with 133 homers. … Seattle started a battery of 42-year-olds in Moyer and Borders. The Rangers’ battery was Rogers (40) and Alomar (39).

AP-ES-07-03-05 1857EDT

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