Mariners spear Devil Rays behind Washburn's gem

SEATTLE (AP) -- Jarrod Washburn knew what was going on.

"I'm not going to lie," he said. "I'm not one of those guys that says, 'Oh, I didn't even know.' I knew it."

Washburn didn't allow a hit until Ben Zobrist's bunt single leading off the sixth inning, and Adrian Beltre homered to lead the Seattle Mariners over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2-0 Wednesday for a three-game sweep.

Elias Says

Jarrod Washburn improved his record to 6-11 with a victory over the Devil Rays on Wednesday, holding Tampa Bay hitless until Ben Zobrist's bunt single leading off the sixth inning. It was the first time that a no-hit bid was spoiled by a bunt single in the sixth inning or later since Ben Davis broke up Curt Schilling's perfect game in the eighth inning in 2001. Davis was criticized afterward by Bob Brenly, the Diamondbacks' manager at the time. • For more Elias Says, click here.

"I can't be upset about that," Washburn said. "He is trying to make something happen for his team. Maybe if that was the eighth or ninth, that would have rubbed me the wrong way."

After walking Carl Crawford with one out in the first, Washburn (6-11) retired 14 straight batters -- including nine on flyouts. The single by Zobrist, the No. 8 hitter in Tampa Bay's batting order, went one-third of the way up the third-base line.

"When you get to the fifth or sixth inning and don't have a hit yet, you have to try and get something done," Zobrist said.

Beltre charged the ball but couldn't pick it up.

"I hate to see it," Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. "He's trying to get on base and get something started for his ballclub, so I don't have a problem with it."

Washburn allowed three hits in 6 2/3 innings, struck out four and walked one, leaving after retiring Jonny Gomes on a flyout with two on in the seventh.

"The defense played great for me -- like they have all season long," Washburn said. "Which is key for me, because I don't strike many people out."

Rafael Soriano fanned pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro and pitched the eighth, and J.J. Putz finished the four-hitter for his 25th save in 29 chances.

James Shields (4-6) pitched a five-hitter, striking out six and walking one.

"I thought he got better as the game went on," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "At the end of the game, he was throwing as well as he's thrown all year."

It was Shields' first complete game in 15 major league starts.

"I put it together," Shields said. "But I still made a few bad pitches."

Ichiro Suzuki doubled on the second pitch of the game, Jose Lopez sacrificed and Beltre singled for a 1-0 lead. Beltre drove Shields' second pitch of the third inning into the center-field bleachers for his 13th homer.

"Little by little, my confidence is getting better," Beltre said. "I'm having better at-bats."

Beltre has four homers in seven games.

"He's swung the bat well, really since before the All-Star break," Hargrove said. "He's being more consistent with it and hitting the ball harder more times. With the talent he has, if he continues to do that, he's going to do awfully well here."

Game notes
It was Seattle's second win in 31 games during which it scored three or fewer runs. The Mariners won 2-1 on Aug. 2 at Baltimore. ... Seattle had its first shutout since Jamie Moyer defeated Kansas City on June 2. ... Seattle All-Star 2B Jose Lopez had his AL-leading 10th sacrifice bunt in the first inning. ... Tampa Bay, 1-12 on the road since the All-Star break, was swept for the fifth time this season -- third since the break. ... Gomes is batting .065 (5-for-77) since the All-Star break. ... Suzuki, 3-for-13 in the series, is hitting .300 or better against every AL team other than Tampa Bay.