Although he gave up four walks, Hisashi Iwakuma pitched a six-inning one-hitter, continuing a streak of effective starting pitching, and Dustin Ackley’s three-run homer wrapped up the Mariners’ 5-2 win at Minnesota Tuesday night — Seattle’s 12th win in its past 16 games.
Iwakuma pitched himself into and out of trouble and took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. In the top of the frame, Ackley took pressure off with a shot to right center, his 10th homer of the season. That brought home Trayvon Robinson and Brendan Ryan, who each singled ahead of him, for a 5-1 lead. The Mariners have homered in 11 consecutive games.
In the third inning, the Mariners went up 2-0 when Kyle Seager hit a two-out, two-run double off Minnesota starter Scott Diamond, plating Ryan, who doubled, and Franklin Gutierrez, who walked.
The Twins pulled one back in the second without a hit. Iwakuma walked Jamey Carroll and wild-pitched him to second. Florimon also walked, and both advanced on a passed ball by catcher Miguel Olivo. Carroll scored on a sacrifice fly from Ben Revere.
“He did it the hard way,” said manager Eric Wedge of Iwakuma. “He was erratic; just getting by all game long. He didn’t have the command he normally has. But he controlled the damage, and guys made plays behind himi. He really had to work for it.”
Brendan Ryan had two doubles and a single, and Seager and Robinson each had two hits. The win was the seventh in eight games this season over the Twins, who at 5:10 p.m. Wednesday send out Sam Dedun0 (4-2, 4.24) to face Jason Vargas (13-8, 3.75).