Mariners Take 2-0 Series Lead Over Chisox

C H I C A G O, Oct. 4 -- Paul Abbott pitched like a playoff veteran andSeattle’s bullpen was nearly unhittable once again. That’s why theroad-tough Mariners are headed home with a 2-0 lead over theChicago White Sox in their division series.

Shutting down Frank “The Big Hurt” Thomas and Chicago’s high-scoring offense for a second straight game, the Mariners beat the White Sox 5-2today, putting the team with the AL’s best regular-seasonrecord on the verge of a quick exit.

Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Friday at Safeco Field inSeattle.

The Mariners won eight of their final nine road games in theregular season, including a wild card-clinching win at Anaheim lastSunday. And now they’ve carried it over into the postseason.

Seattle stung the White Sox 7-4 in the opener Tuesday when EdgarMartinez and John Olerud hit 10th-inning homers off Chicago relieface Keith Foulke.

Bullpen Stops White Sox Hitters

Abbott, who started the season in the bullpen, gave up just fivehits and two runs over 5 2-3 innings to win in his first postseasonappearance in a pro career that began in 1985.

Seattle’s bullpen took over as Arthur Rhodes, Jose Mesa andKazuhiro Sasaki didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way. Sasakistruck out the side in the ninth for his second save of the series.

On Tuesday, Mariners relievers gave up just three hits over 62-3 scoreless innings.

The White Sox, who led the majors in scoring, stranded eightrunners, giving them 18 in the first two games. Thomas was 0-for-4today and is hitless in seven series at-bats.

Chicago’s 3-4-5 hitters — Thomas, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee— were a combined 0-for-9 today after going 2-for-13 in theopener.

The White Sox have lost nine straight postseason home gamessince beating Los Angeles in Game 1 of the 1959 World Series.

Thomas, an MVP candidate who hit 43 homers and drove in 143 runsduring the season, came up with runners at first and second in theseventh but flied out against Mesa for the second out.