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  Tuesday, Sep. 5 7:05pm ET
M's take step toward ending struggles
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

TORONTO (AP) -- Although he said he does it every day in batting practice, it had been a while since Jay Buhner sacrificed when it counted.

Buhner, who has 304 career homers, laid down his first bunt since 1998, setting up Mike Cameron's tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning as Seattle edged the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 Tuesday night, just the Mariners' sixth win in 22 games.

"It take it serious, very seriously," said Buhner, whose last bunt came July 10, 1998. "When I don't get the bunt down it really hurts me."

With the score 3-all, Edgar Martinez singled off Kelvim Escobar (9-14) leading off the eighth and John Olerud reached on an error. His grounder to second went off Mickey Morandini's glove, and rolled to shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who threw to first, where Carlos Delgado dropped the ball.

Buhner got ahead 2-0, then met with third base coach Larry Bowa before advancing the runners. Cameron then flied to center, scoring pinch-runner Al Martin with the go-ahead run.

"Bowa said unless he took the sign off I was bunting, but I'm not real good with what the take off sign is, so I was bunting," Buhner said. "There's no greater feeling than being able to get it down."

Arthur Rhodes (4-7) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched a perfect ninth for his 32nd save, breaking Blue Jays closer Billy Koch's AL record for saves by a rookie. Seattle has won seven straight over Toronto, which has lost four in a row overall.

"We just have to stop the bleeding," Delgado said. "There is no time to panic."

Olerud hit an RBI grounder in the first and David Bell made it 2-0 with a run-scoring single in the second, but Morandini tied it with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom half.

Buhner's RBI double gave Seattle a 3-2 lead in the third, but Brad Fullmer hit a run-scoring single in the fifth to tie it again.

Game notes
Seattle starter Aaron Sele, who lost his previous four starts, got a no-decision, giving up three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. ... Toronto starter Chris Carpenter, making his second straight start following five consecutive relief appearances, walked six and allowed six hits and three runs in seven innings. ... Attendance was just 21,128.
 


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AUDIO/VIDEO
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 Jim Fregosi is happy with Chris Carpenter's performance on Tuesday.
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