Mariners finally find a way to cool off the Rangers

DARN IT - Texas' Brandon Boggs (above) slams the bat into the dirt after striking out to Seattle Mariners pitcher J.J. Putz during the 11th inning of Wednesday's game in Arlington. Seattle won 4-3 in 12 innings.

ARLINGTON (AP) - With Jarrod Washburn in the closer's role and Miguel Cairo filling in for a suspended slugger, the Seattle Mariners avoided a sweep.

Cairo had a two-out RBI single in the 12th inning, then Washburn finished for his first career save as the Mariners beat Texas 4-3 on Wednesday for only their third victory in 15 games.

"These guys just gutted it out. It's a big game on a lot of fronts," manager John McLaren said. "This is a big win. I can't overstate it. We're trying to get something going on the positive side."

The Rangers (20-22), still winners in 13 of their last 19 games, are off tonight, and then begin an interleague series at Houston on Friday.

Seattle, which trailed 2-0 after the first inning, matched its biggest comeback of the season. The Mariners took advantage of a pair of fielding miscues in the seventh to score two unearned runs, and kept Texas from having a chance to win in the ninth when Cairo ignited a double play.

Cairo started at first base for Richie Sexson, who missed the entire series while serving the completion of a five-game suspension after he charged the mound and flung his helmet at Texas pitcher Kason Gabbard to start a bench-clearing incident in Seattle last week. This series was completed without incident, and Sexson can play Friday.

"It's nice to help the team win," Cairo said. "That's my job. When they need me to play for someone and help out, that's what I'm ready to do."

Wladimir Balentien led off the 12th with a single off Franklyn German (1-2), and Yuniesky Betancourt sacrificed. Balentien moved to third on a deep flyout by Ichiro Suzuki, who went 0-for-6 and ended a 13-game hitting streak. Cairo then singled up the middle.

J.J. Putz (1-1), the regular closer, worked two scoreless innings before Washburn made his first relief appearance since 1999, and only his 11th in 265 games over 11 major league seasons.

"That job is securely in hand with J.J. I'm not taking his job," said Washburn, the eighth pitcher used by Seattle. "Whatever works. We needed a win right now. ... When we started going through guys, I knew it was definitely a possibility."

Washburn was listed as Friday's scheduled starter against San Diego, but McLaren said afterward that he'd already planned to skip the lefthander's turn in the rotation.

"Cairo was big in this game," McLaren said. "He came up with the big hit and started a huge double play."

After Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew a leadoff walk in the Texas ninth, Chris Shelton tried to advance him with a bunt. But Cairo fielded it and threw to Betancourt to start a 3-6-4 double play. German Duran then struck out.

Texas clinched its sixth straight series by winning the first two games against Seattle, but missed the chance for its first three-game sweep of the season.

"We're still playing good baseball," Michael Young said.

David Murphy went 4-for-5 for the Rangers, including a one-out single in the 11th against Putz.

But Putz escaped with two strikeouts, which sandwiched an intentional walk after he threw a wild pitch that allowed Murphy to get to second base.

Arthur Rhodes got Seattle out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh when he coaxed pinch-hitter Marlon Byrd into an inningending double play that kept the Mariners ahead.

The big left-hander struck out Ian Kinsler, the only other batter he faced, to start the eighth but other relievers faltered around him.

Notes: Rangers 3B Hank Blalock, out since April 29 with a torn left hamstring, had a pregame workout on the field. "He did well," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "What I put him through today, the hamstring is fine." Blalock is scheduled to play a rehabilitation game Thursday for Double A Frisco. He could rejoin the Rangers this weekend. ... The Rangers had three doubles in the first to take a 2-0 lead.