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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PHOENIX -- Geraldo Guzman's bid for a permanent spot in the
Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation received a boost Monday night.
Guzman, the one-time carpenter turned ace, gave up four hits
over eight innings in his second career start as the Diamondbacks
blanked the Seattle Mariners 7-0.
|  | | Geraldo Guzman dominated the Seattle Mariners with 71 strikes in his 109 pitches. |
"I felt real good," Guzman said through an interpreter. "The
big thing was I felt like I changed everything up -- fastball in,
fastball away, changeup. It was the combination of everything."
Alex Cabrera, in his first game back from the disabled list, hit
his second career homer and added a sacrifice fly for the
Diamondbacks, who won for just the third time in eight games.
"This is the part of the season where you want to put as much
ground between you and the teams behind you as you can," said Jay
Bell, who was 3-for-5 with a run-scoring triple.
Guzman (2-0), recalled from Triple-A Tucson after Seattle's 6-3
victory Sunday, struck out nine, walked three and allowed only two
runners to reach second. He retired 13 of the last 14 batters he
faced and threw 71 of his 109 pitches for strikes.
"At least we don't see him again so we don't have to worry
about it," said Seattle center fielder Mike Cameron, who was
0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Guzman was originally signed by the Montreal Expos and pitched
in the Dominican Summer League until injuring his arm in 1990. He
spent seven years working as a carpenter until an Arizona scout
encouraged him to begin playing on weekends. Guzman then
participated in the Diamondbacks' Dominican Academy, as well as
playing in Taiwan and the Dominican winter league.
Guzman started the season in Double-A as a reliever, appearing
in 10 games before he made his first minor league start May 5.
In his major league debut July 6 at Houston, the 27-year-old
right-hander allowed one run on four hits in eight innings, but was
sent back to Double-A El Paso the next day.
"I don't feel the pressure of being at home or being away,"
Guzman said. "I feel good wherever I am."
Seattle starter John Halama (8-5), making his first appearance
since July 5, wasn't nearly as sharp. The left-hander escaped a jam
in the first inning, but wasn't as fortunate in the third and
fourth.
Tony Womack led off the third with a bunt single back to the
mound that Halama unsuccessfully tried to backhand. Bell followed
with a triple off the wall in center to give Arizona a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth, Greg Colbrunn reached on an infield single,
advanced to third on Damian Miller's double down the left-field
line and scored on Danny Bautista's sacrifice fly. Halama struck
out Guzman, but Womack doubled past a diving Cameron to score
Miller, and Bell added a hit-and-run single for a 4-0 lead.
Cabrera, who missed 12 games with a strained left groin, made it
5-0 in the fifth when he homered into the left-center field stands.
His seventh-inning sacrifice fly gave the Diamondbacks a 6-0 lead.
Womack added another sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Halama allowed six runs on 12 hits over 6 1/3 innings for his
fifth defeat in seven decisions. He struck out five and walked none.
"He didn't locate his pitches all that well," Seattle manager
Lou Piniella said. "He should be sharper his next time out."
Game notes
Cabrera has 37 homers in 59 games with the Diamondbacks and
El Paso. He is 9-for-17 in six games with Arizona with a double, a
triple, two homers and eight RBI. ... Designated hitter Edgar Martinez again
stayed on the bench for the Mariners in the National League park. Martinez
appeared in the field just once this season, June 9 at San
Francisco. ... To make room for Guzman, the Diamondbacks optioned
right-handed pitcher Nelson Figueroa, the starter Sunday, to Triple-A Tucson. Outfielder Jason
Conti also was optioned to Tucson when Cabrera was activated. ...
Womack has hit safely in 12 of 13 games. ... Halama has hits in
each of the last two seasons. ... Left fielder Luis Gonzalez helped Guzman
with a pair of tough catches in the seventh, including a
back-handed running grab of Carlos Guillen's line drive to the
warning track.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
RECAPS
Oakland 11
Colorado 10
Colorado 10
Oakland 9
(2nd game)
Boston 7
Montreal 3
Cleveland 8
Houston 6
Detroit 3
Cincinnati 1
Philadelphia 10
NY Yankees 8
NY Mets 7
Toronto 5
Tampa Bay 8
Atlanta 6
Baltimore 5
Florida 3
Chi. White Sox 11
Milwaukee 2
Chicago Cubs 3
Kansas City 1
St. Louis 8
Minnesota 3
Arizona 7
Seattle 0
Anaheim 3
San Diego 2
San Francisco 10
Texas 8
Los Angeles 9
Pittsburgh 6
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