Three-run Everett walk-off caps M's rally vs. Rangers

SEATTLE (AP) -- Carl Everett punctuated the first signature hit of his Seattle career by triumphantly raising both hands skyward well before his game-winning home run clanged off the facing of the second deck beyond left field.

Everett's three-run homer capped a five-run ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners rallied to beat the Texas Rangers 9-6 on Wednesday night.

"This team is just tired of losing," said Everett, who is 8-for-17 with two doubles, a homer and five RBI in his last four games. "They'll do anything to win.

"There's no doubt in my mind we have a good ballclub. We just have to put it all together. Tonight, we did. It just took us a while."

The Mariners scored four runs off Texas closer Francisco Cordero (1-2).

"Coco is our closer," said Rangers catcher Gerald Laird. "We live and die with him. I think he is great. Sometimes you have a night you can't find the rhythm."

Ichiro Suzki, who had four hits to break out of a 5-for-32 slump, was hit by a pitch to lead off the ninth. Jose Lopez followed with a double before Raul Ibanez's sacrifice fly made it 6-5. Richie Sexson then had an RBI single to tie the game.

Kenji Johjima singled to chase Cordero before Everett connected for his third homer of the season off reliever C.J. Wilson.

J.J. Putz (1-0) pitched an inning for the victory.

Suzuki was 4-for-4 to raise his average from .177 to .227.

"This is the most excited I've been in two seasons," Suzuki said through an interpreter -- referring to the win.

He was far more reluctant to talk about his hitting.

Kevin Millwood, the 2005 AL ERA leader, held Seattle to three runs and looked poised for his second straight victory before the rally. He gave up a career-high 12 hits -- including all four of Suzuki's singles -- but still had a 6-3 lead when he left two batters in eighth.

"Against a lot of people, that would probably be an 0-for-4," Millwood said of Suzuki.

Hank Blalock had three hits and three RBI for Texas, which lost for the second time in six games.

Everett and Adrian Beltre had back-to-back doubles off reliever Antonio Alfonseca to bring Seattle within 6-4 in the eighth inning. But with two on and two out, pinch hitter Roberto Petagine grounded out to reliever Akinori Otsuka to end the threat.

It was the first extra-base hit and RBI this season for Beltre.

An announced crowd of 17,613 watched on a pleasant spring night. It was the lowest attendance at Safeco Field, which opened in July, 1999.

Texas built a 4-1 lead in the fifth on consecutive doubles from Michael Young and Mark Teixeira and a RBI single by Blalock.

In the bottom of the inning, Seattle loaded the bases. With the sparse crowd noisy for the only time, Raul Ibanez popped out to end Seattle's threat.

Blalock made it 6-1 with a two-run single off reliever Julio Mateo.

Millwood escaped more trouble after Suzuki's fourth hit scored Seattle's second run in the seventh. The right-hander got Jose Lopez to hit a comebacker that turned into an inning-ending double play.

Seattle opening day starter Jamie Moyer remained winless through four starts. He allowed four runs in six innings.

Game notes
Texas RF Kevin Mench had two singles while starting for only the second time in seven games. He remained without an RBI in 39 at-bats. He's had two cortisone injections into a sore right foot this month, but manager Buck Showalter said "hopefully now he'll be ready for the rest of the year." ... Suzuki's last four hit game was Sept. 30 against Oakland. His career high is five hits, done four times. ... RHP Kevin Appier pitched a scoreless inning with Seattle's Triple-A Tacoma team at Sacramento. The 38-year-old is trying to come back from a calf strain March 17. The former All-Star hasn't pitched in the major leagues in two years.