How They Scored

SEATTLE 1ST:   I Suzuki reached on infield single to second.  I Suzuki stole 
second. M McLemore struck out looking.  I Suzuki safe at third on error by 
second baseman M Giles. B Boone doubled to left, I Suzuki scored.  E Martinez 
struck out looking.  J Olerud grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error)  
ATLANTA 0, SEATTLE 1.

SEATTLE 3RD:   I Suzuki reached on infield single to second.  I Suzuki stole 
second. M McLemore struck out swinging.  I Suzuki stole third. B Boone grounded 
out to pitcher, I Suzuki scored.  E Martinez popped out to shortstop. (1 Run, 
1 Hit, 0 Errors)  ATLANTA 0, SEATTLE 2.

ATLANTA 6TH:   V Castilla grounded out to second.  H Blanco grounded out to 
shortstop.  R Furcal singled to center.  M Giles walked, R Furcal to second.  
G Sheffield singled to center, R Furcal scored, M Giles to third.  C Jones 
grounded out to second. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)  ATLANTA 1, SEATTLE 2.

Game Story

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- Greg Maddux's best wasn't enough to 
outduel Gil Meche.

Meche combined with three relievers on a five-hitter and Bret
Boone drove in Ichiro Suzuki with both runs as the Seattle
Mariners edged Maddux and the Atlanta Braves, 2-1, in the rubber
game of a three-game series.

In becoming the seventh American League pitcher to register at
least nine wins, Meche (9-3) denied Maddux a third straight
victory.  On April 29, he pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings to
defeat Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees.

"I've had the chance to face some big guys this year, Clemens
and Maddux, and I have had some good luck," Meche said.  "So I
am just enjoying it."

Meche went 7 1/3 innings in this one, allowing one run and four
hits with two walks and six strikeouts.  The 24-year-old
righthander has won six of his last seven starts and is sixth in
the AL with a 3.13 ERA.

"I am kind of still in a little bit of shock," said Meche, who
watched the Braves often while growing up in Louisiana.  "It was
a lot of adrenaline out there today, facing Maddux for the
first time, and I will probably come to the ballpark tomorrow
and realize what I did today."

"It's Cy Young young against Cy Young," joked Mariners manager
Bob Melvin.  "Gil's been outstanding.  He's pitched against
Clemens in Yankee Stadium and had some marquee matchups.  He's
come through every time for us.  Each time out there, he gains
confidence."

Shigetoshi Hasegawa got the last two outs in the eighth and
Arthur Rhodes and Jeff Nelson combined to work the ninth. Nelson
retired Julio Franco on a flyout to right field for his fifth
save in seven chances.

Maddux (5-6) recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven
innings but gave up both runs and five hits as Atlanta lost for
just the third time in 11 games.

"I think that may be the best game I've ever seen Greg Maddux
pitch," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.  "Two infield singles and
both runs scored on that.  He was flawless all day long.  One
pitch to Boone, really, and that was it.  I've never seen him
look better."

"The other guy pitched better, plain and simple," Maddux said.
"I'm not unhappy with how I threw, I'm a little unhappy with the
outcome.  I got outpitched."

Seattle got to the four-time Cy Young Award winner in the bottom
of the first inning.  Suzuki led off with an infield hit, stole
second and scored one out later on Boone's double.

"Maddux is a little bit slow to the late and that was our plan
today going in," Mariners manager Bob Melvin said.  "First of
all, you have to get guys on, but he has got such good command.
And having such good command, they can pitch out at any time.
... But his rhythm is between 1.4 and 1.5 (seconds), and that
gives us an opportunity to run."

Two innings later, Suzuki reached on another leadoff infield
single, stole second and third and scored on Boone's comebacker
to make it 2-0.

"You have to get Maddux early, a lot of times in the first
inning, so that was a big hit, obviously.  And then Ichiro doing
what he did, stealing second and third ... we had to take a
chance and we got a hopper and a chance to get him in," Melvin
said.

Atlanta finally got to Meche in the sixth.  With two out, Rafael
Furcal singled, Marcus Giles walked and Gary Sheffield singled
to make it 2-1.  But Meche retired Chipper Jones on a groundout
to protect the lead.

"That was a good matchup.  That's what baseball is all about,"
Sheffield said.  "That's the lost art of this game nowadays,
one-run games and two pitchers battling to the end. ... We
played a good game, but they got one more than we did."