Mariners
Sweep leaves M's leery

By Bob Finnigan
Seattle Times staff reporter

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BALTIMORE — The Mariners came away from Texas after losing three straight with mixed feelings about the way the Rangers pounded them for 27 runs on 41 hits, eight of them home runs.

No one accused the Rangers of stealing signs, but there was some wondering if anything extra was going on.

"They looked like they knew what was coming," Mariners manager Bob Melvin said. "This is not to dispute that they can hit, and we threw a number of balls down the middle."

One Seattle coach said he was curious about the huge disparity between Texas' offensive output home and away.

"It's not normal to see a 100-point difference home and away," he said.

Texas is hitting .373 at home, with 17 homers and 80 runs, going 7-3. On the road, the Rangers are hitting .242 with seven homers and 30 runs, going 4-5.

Maybe it's the park. Texas pitchers have given up two more runs per game at home.

Maybe Mariners catcher Ben Davis' fingers are too long, Melvin was asked, a joke that the Rangers were stealing signs.

"Either that," he quipped, "or Ben is telling them what's coming."

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company