Sox Relive a Nightmare

Mariners 6 Sox 4 SEATTLE Nothing like a flashback to 1993 to makea White Sox loss more depressing than usual.

Sure seems longer than two years ago, doesn't it?

Tim Belcher wore a Sox uniform for only the last 11 weeks in thatchampionship season and then he skipped town. And there he wasMonday, giving the Mariners a solid start in their 6-4 victory overSox before 18,852 at Kingdome.

Belcher shook off a three-run error by Mike Blowers in the firstinning and got the lead back on two-out home runs by Jay Buhner andBlowers.

"Nobody out there was trying to make errors," Belcher said. "Ifelt confident knowing how we've been scoring runs lately."

Belcher (8-6) gave up four runs but all were unearned, the lastone coming on a wild pitch by Norm Charlton (second save) afterBelcher loaded the bases in the seventh.

Tino Martinez hit his 26th home run off Atlee Hammaker leadingoff the eighth to give the Mariners a 6-4 lead.

The Mariners were looking to reach the .500 mark with a thirdconsecutive victory, something they hadn't done since winning fourstraight in May.

Wilson Alvarez (4-7) took the loss. He walked six and allowedfive runs, five hits while striking out six before Jose DeLeonreplaced him in the seventh.

Acquired by the Mariners May 15 from the Cincinnati Reds forpitcher Roger Salkeld, Belcher started against the Sox at ComiskeyPark June 19 and got a no-decision in an 8-6 Sox victory.

The Sox traded prospects Johnny Ruffin and Jeff Pierce forBelcher on July 31, 1993, to bolster the starting rotation in theirdrive to the AL West title. He was 3-5 with the Sox with thesehighlights: A 4-0 shutout over Oakland and a victory in reliefagainst Toronto in Game 4 of the ALCS.

Belcher entered the game with a 7-6 record and 4.74 ERA. Hestarted out 3-0, 2.48 in his first five games and then went 0-3, 8.31in his next four.

But Belcher has been streaky. With the Tigers last season, helost his first seven decisions in eight starts, won seven of his nextnine starts before finishing 7-15. He was going for his fourth winin his last five decisions after losing four of his previous five.

Belcher had an aggravating start against his former team Monday.Dave Martinez and Tim Raines singled and Robin Ventura walked to loadthe bases with two outs. Blowers, the Mariners third baseman, madea nice stop to his left on a sharply hit grounder by Mike Devereauxbut Blowers' throw was wide of second baseman Luis Sojo for whatwould have been an inning-ending forceout.

The ball rolled along the rug into the Sox bullpen, allowing allthree runners to score.

Buhner got Belcher right back in the game in the bottom of thefirst by slugging an 0-2 Alvarez pitch over the left-field fence withEdgar Martinez (ground-rule double) on base.

"Wilson made a real bad pitch on Buhner's home run," Sox managerTerry Bevington said. "He gets him 0-2 on two good curves then hethrows a change. We were looking for him to throw the ball in thedirt or throw a high fastball."

It was the right-handed hitting Buhner's 19th home run of theseason but his first against a left-hander.

Blowers walked with the bases loaded - Alvarez's thirdconsecutive walk of the inning - to tie the game 3-3.

Tino Martinez's sacrifice fly to Lance Johnson in center made it4-3 and Alvarez escaped further trouble by striking out AlexRodriguez and getting Dan Wilson on a fly out to left.

Belcher then began to find a groove, facing two hitters above theminimum in the second through fifth innings. The only runner toreach second in that stretch was Devereaux, who lined a leadoffdouble in the fourth but was stranded there.

"Belcher threw a lot more breaking balls and fork balls and sortof a batting practice fastball," Raines said. "He kept us offbalance."