Sun Jun 15 01:15:55 2008

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Flores powers Nats past M's

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Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Jesus Flores homered and drove in three runs, as the Washington Nationals topped the Seattle Mariners, 5-2, in the second of a three-game interleague tilt at Safeco Field.

Tyler Clippard (1-1) allowed two runs on seven hits in six-plus innings to earn his first win as a National, while Jon Rauch notched his 15th save. Ronnie Belliard added two doubles and drove in a run for the Nats, who have taken the first two in the series.

Adrian Beltre and Jose Vidro each belted a solo home run for the M's, who have dropped nine of their last 12 games. Miguel Batista (3-8) dropped the decision after allowing two runs in an inning in relief of Erik Bedard, who struck out eight and allowed two runs on nine hits in six frames.

With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the seventh, the Nats pulled in front against Batista. After a fielder's choice and a groundout put Lastings Milledge at second with two outs, Flores golfed a fly ball that soared just out of reach of a leaping Raul Ibanez and over the wall in left to give Washington a 4-2 edge.

Clippard was pulled in favor of Saul Rivera after allowing a single to Wladimir Balentien and a walk to Jamie Burke to start the home seventh. But, Rivera struck out Yuniesky Betancourt after falling behind in the count 3-0, then escaped the jam when Ichiro Suzuki grounded into a double play.

Belliard's RBI double added an insurance run against Sean Green in the top of the ninth, and Rauch struck out the side in the bottom half to finish off the win.

The Nationals picked up a lead in the top of the first as with runners on second and third with two outs, Flores singled in Elijah Dukes.

Bedard worked in-and-out of trouble through the next several innings, but back-to-back doubles by Belliard and Felipe Lopez produced another run in the top of the fourth.

But, the M's struck back in the bottom half, as Vidro golfed a one-out homer to right. One out later, Beltre drilled Clippard's 1-2 change-up just over the wall in left-center to knot the game at 2-2.

Game Notes

Umpire Jerry Crawford left the game in the middle of the second inning due to back spasms. Paul Nauert took Crawford's spot behind the plate, and the game was finished with a three-man umpiring crew...Flores has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games. During that span, he is hitting at a .340 clip and has 14 of his 18 RBI for the season.