SEATTLE--The Seattle Mariners utilized some good old-fashioned small ball on Tuesday, when shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt executed a suicide squeeze to bring home runner Jose Lopez in a game against the Rangers. The perfectly executed play brought the Mariners to within nine runs.
     “That right there is an example of good old fashioned small ball,” said manager Jim Riggleman. “We’ve been working real hard on situational hitting, and in that situation we really needed to get the run across. That’s the kind of play that puts pressure on the defense. I think that’s why they were laughing at us so much. They couldn’t believe how much pressure we were putting on them.”
    The Mariners ended up losing the game 14-2. Betancourt was awarded the game ball by Riggleman for his selfless play.

LOS ANGELES--Giants starter Kevin Correia intentionally walked the first eight batters in a game against the Dodgers last night in order to get to Andruw Jones, who was batting ninth. Jones, who is struggling this season to the tune of a .169 batting average, struck out on three pitches, leaving the bases loaded.
        Despite walking in five runs, Correia said he had no regrets about his decision.
     “If I had to do it all over again I would probably do the same thing,” he said. “I know it sucks to have to walk in all those runs but it all pays off when Andruw steps into the batter’s box. And he didn’t disappoint. Three pitches, three strikes. It’s just too bad they pulled him out of the game because I was hoping to face him 27 times.”
     After the game, Joe Torre insisted that the 8 intentional walks were “a testament to the power of the rest of the lineup.”