Paxton, Cruz pace Mariners past Mets

SEATTLE — James Paxton wrapped up a perfect July.

Paxton tossed six scoreless innings, becoming the first Mariners pitcher to win six games in a single month, and Nelson Cruz had a three-run homer to pace Seattle to a 9-1 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.

“I didn’t even think he was his best stuff-wise today,” said Mariners manager Scott Servais. “I thought he was just a tick off with his breaking pitches. But, the fastball was really good, got ahead in the count. He pounded the zone and got us where we needed to go.”

Cruz provided Paxton with an early cushion with his first-inning homer and Leonys Martin, recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A, homered in his first at-bat and saved a possible run with a diving catch in right field.

Paxton (11-3) scattered six hits, striking out eight and walking none, with two hit batters in a 108-pitch outing. The lefthander, sidelined most of May with a left forearm strain, was 6-0 in six July starts, allowing six earned runs in 39 1/3 innings for a 1.37 ERA with no home runs.

“That’s what it’s all about, being able to pitch when you don’t have your

Mariners 9, Mets 1

best stuff,” Paxton said. “I’ve gotten better at that over this year. Not having my best stuff sometimes and just finding a way to get it done. And, you also get it done with defensive plays, guys making great plays behind you, and that helps out big time.”

Emilio Pagan retired all six batters he faced before James Pazos allowed a run in the ninth on three consecutive twoout singles.

Seth Lugo (5-3) allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings, striking out five and walking none.

Cruz put the Mariners up 3-0 with his 21st homer and first since July 17, giving him an AL-best 79 RBIs.

“He yanked a couple fastballs foul, he was early out front,” Lugo said. “I threw the changeup in the same spot, five or six miles per hour slower, figured I’d catch him out front. But he’s a good hitter and stayed back on it.”

The Mariners added two runs in the second. Martin, sent down after hitting .111 in 15 games to start the season, hit his first homer to right with one out.

Seattle scored a run in the sixth on Ben Gamel’s RBI single, and made it 7-0 in the seventh on Danny Valencia’s sacrifice fly.