SEATTLE Piniella returns to cheers

But the new Tampa Bay pilot was unable to beat his former team, the Mariners.
SEATTLE (AP) -- Lou Piniella was in foreign territory when he ventured into the visitors' clubhouse at Safeco Field.
When he stepped onto the field, welcomed by the roar of heartfelt cheers, he felt right at home.
"It was well worth coming here for, it really was," said Piniella, who managed the Seattle Mariners for 10 years before moving to Tampa Bay after last season.
Everything went perfectly for Piniella except one thing: His team lost.
Mike Cameron homered in the eighth inning, Bret Boone hit a three-run shot in the third and left-hander Jamie Moyer earned his 12th win as the Mariners beat Tampa Bay 4-3 on Friday night.
"I would have liked to win, but it was a night I'll remember forever," Piniella said. "Hopefully, that's all said and done and now we can play baseball for two more days."
Gained first trip
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, Moyer (12-5) settled into the rhythm that earned him his first trip to the All-Star game at age 40. He allowed three runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Shigetoshi Hasegawa pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in five tries.
The Mariners and their fans honored Piniella with a lengthy standing ovation, two framed photographs, a base signed by every Mariners player and a video tribute to his time with the organization.
During warmups, Piniella signed autographs for excited fans and staged a 15-minute news conference where he broke into tears when he was asked what kind of reception he expected from fans.
"The important thing here is not really the reception I get," he said, eyes welling. "It is how I can say, 'Thank you' back.
"You know, I've managed other places and played baseball in other places. It's hard to say thanks for the way I was treated here. That's the most important thing, as far as I'm concerned."
Thankful
He found a way, pulling a sheet of paper from his pocket and reading a statement into a microphone placed on home plate. He thanked Seattle's front office and his former players and coaches, then turned his attention to the fans.
"You made it a pleasure to come to the ballpark every day," Piniella said, drawing a roar from the packed stands. "God's really blessed me. I love you all and will never forget you."
Seattle manager Bob Melvin took the lineup card out, joined by Cameron and Boone, along with Carlos Guillen, Edgar Martinez, Mark McLemore, Jeff Nelson, John Olerud and Ichiro Suzuki.
Those players spent several productive seasons under Piniella. As a measure of respect, Melvin asked them to remove their hats.
"The guy was here 10 years and built it from the ground up," said Melvin, who repeatedly praised Piniella for leaving him such a solid lineup. "These are his guys here. I had goose bumps, and I know our guys did, too."
Cheered
Piniella got a rousing cheer the first time he was introduced and at every opportunity. Each time he stepped onto the field, fans called: "Lou-u-u-u-u." It was a great big party for Sweet Lou.
"I wasn't expecting it to be this big," said Aubrey Huff, who put Tampa ahead 3-0 with a solo homer in the third. "Obviously, he created something really special. You've got to be crazy as a player not to enjoy that kind of atmosphere."
Tampa Bay starter Jeremi Gonzalez pitched 6 2-3 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs with six strikeouts and three walks.
Cameron connects
Reliever Travis Harper (1-5) threw a 2-1 pitch to Cameron, and the Mariners' slugger drove it into the Seattle bullpen in left. It was the perfect remedy to a recent stretch where Seattle lost five out of seven games.
"Cammie got the biggest hit of the night," Boone said. "It was great. We needed something like this."
Boone's homer was nothing to laugh at, either. He drove the ball into the upper deck above left field to tie it at 3.
"Gonzalez threw better," Piniella said. "He made one bad pitch to Boone and the guy whacked it. Cameron got a good pitch to hit and he did the same."
Notes
Suzuki has hit in 10 straight games, averaging .442. He has hit safely in 32 of his last 35 games.
Gonzalez's road ERA is 2.88 and he has allowed three or fewer runs in eight of his last 11 starts.
The Mariners are 13-5 in one-run games, winning 10 games in their final at-bat. Tampa Bay is 12-19 in one-run games.