A win-win for the Mariners against Mets

NEW YORK — In the heated race for Interim Manager of the Year, Jim Riggleman is scoring some major points on the Mets' Jerry Manuel.

In the battle of beleaguered veteran first basemen who get booed at home, Richie Sexson had a decided edge over Carlos Delgado on Tuesday.

And in the unique category of knuckleball pitchers capitalizing on a tip from Tim Wakefield, the Oscar — and the victory — goes to R.A. Dickey.

The Mariners, trying desperately to coax something positive out of their lost season, blasted the Mets 11-0 Tuesday, easily their most decisive victory all year.

Dickey pitched seven shutout innings for his first victory as a starter since beating the Mariners on Sept. 18, 2005, when he was with the Texas Rangers.

And yes, that giddy bunch crushing the ball all over Shea Stadium, and racing willy nilly (and Willie Bloomquisty) around the bases, really was the Mariners.

The two wins against the Mets in New York are the Mariners' first back-to-back wins since May 27-28 at home against Boston, and the first on the road since April 16-17 at Oakland.

Tonight, with Miguel Batista on the mound, they will go after their first three-game sweep of the season. In fact, they've had only one other opportunity for a sweep, losing to the Angels on April 13 after winning the first two games at Safeco.

"I think we've been having better approaches at the plate," said Raul Ibanez. "There's definitely more energy, the energy that only winning can bring. I've been seeing more intensity on the field. I'm happy with what I've seen."

Ibanez had three of the Mariners' 15 hits, including a solo homer off losing pitcher Oliver Perez in the fifth. But it was the offense of struggling Kenji Johjima and Sexson that left the Mariners encouraged that those two may finally have seen the light.

Of course, they've had those hopes dashed before. But the Mariners were still savoring Johjima's three-hit night that featured a two-run homer — just his third of the year, and first since May 16.

As for Sexson, he's been struggling as much as anyone on the team amid consistent rumors that he will be cut loose soon.

Sexson could certainly relate to Delgado, who has had offensive troubles of his own and was roundly booed during his 0-for-4 night that included two strikeouts. Delgado's average dropped to .213.

Sexson drove in three runs, his most since April 18. He had two well-struck sacrifice flies as well as a single and double — his first extra-base hit since homering May 24, and his first double since May 20.

"He's been swinging the bat really well and not having anything to show for it," Ibanez said of Sexson. "He's been lining out quite a bit, getting good sounds off his bat.

"It's been not just for the last couple of days, it's been going on for a while now. I think he's about to really come alive, which he's capable of doing."

Sexson hurried out of the clubhouse and wasn't available for comment, but Riggleman said, "I just feel that he has been getting closer. I think he's had some good ABs. He had some good at-bats before Atlanta, in Atlanta and last night he had some good ones. Tonight, better yet. Maybe he's getting closer."

Dickey, of course, deserved major credit for the victory as well, limiting the Mets to six hits over seven innings — 115 pitches worth — while preserving the Mariners' worn-out bullpen to just a two-inning stint by Mark Lowe.

Dickey, who was 0-3 with a 13.50 earned-run average in three starts this year and 1-0, 1.96 in eight relief appearances, said he reached out to fellow knuckleballer Wakefield a day earlier.

"To be honest with you, I was going through a period where I lost who I was," he said. "I called Wakefield and he called me back, and we were able to talk about that.

"He was able to look at an outing on the computer, and he gave me a couple suggestions. I was able to take them into the game, and it was good. It's helpful to have a guy like that who knows what I'm going through."

After what the Mariners have gone through, they hope they have turned the corner offensively as well.

"I think we've had more discipline through aggression," Ibanez said. "It's not a passive discipline, it's an aggressive discipline at the plate, and I think that's helped. It can be contagious. Quality at-bats can be contagious, and we've been doing that."

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com