Mariners end road trip at 4-2



Cincinnati, OH---


Joe Saunders pitched seven strong innings and Nick Franklin and Justin Smoak each homered to pace the Seattle Mariners to a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

The Reds just managed six hits and a run off Saunders. The left-hander retired 11 consecutive batters before Chris Heisey doubled into the left field corner with one out in the fifth inning.

Saunders (7-8) walked none and struck out two while winning back-to-back starts for the first time this season.

Charlie Furbush pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Tom Wilhelmsen was perfect in the ninth for his 18th save, helping the Mariners pick up their second win of the three-game series and improve to 10-2 against the Reds since interleague play began in 1997.

The Mariners start a four-game series Monday at Safeco Field against the A.L. East leading Boston Red Sox.