Indians, Mariners split doubleheader

Thursday’s Indians-Mariners game was not completed in time for this edition.

SEATTLE (AP) — The Cleveland Indians watched a major postseason concern flare up yet again — closer Joe Borowski — and for the second straight night.

Pinch-hitter Jeff Clement hit his first career homer with two outs in the ninth off Borowski to tie the game at 2, and Mike Morse singled home pinch-runner Rob Johnson with two outs in the 10th as the Mariners rallied for a 3-2 victory in the second game of Wednesday’s unusual doubleheader.

“He threw me a 1-0 fastball that was right there. That’s what you’re supposed to do with them,” said Clement, Seattle’s first-round pick in the 2005 draft.

Borowski failed to finish on Tuesday night, giving up a two-run homer to Adrian Beltre in the ninth, before the Indians won in the 12th. Wednesday’s blown save was Borowski’s eighth of the season.

“If you play this game long enough they say you’re going to experience everything,” Borowski said. “First-time in my career; get it out of the way now.”

Tie with Red Sox

The split dropped the Indians (94-64) into a tie with Boston for the best record in the AL, and the loss kept Cleveland, at least for a day, from clinching home field for the first round of the playoffs, where they’ll likely face the New York Yankees.

In the opener, Fausto Carmona won his 19th game as the Indians routed Seattle 12-4. It was the conclusion of the four-game series that was snowed-out in April in Cleveland. The Indians were the home team for the opener of just the second doubleheader in Safeco Field history.

“It’s been an interesting series to say the least,” Indians’ manager Eric Wedge said. “It’s just part of a big league season.”

J.J. Putz (5-1) got the win for Seattle in the nightcap, striking out the side in the 10th, then delivering a shaving-cream pie to Clement in the clubhouse. Aaron Fultz (4-3) was the loser.

With one-out in the 10th, Ben Broussard walked on a close 3-2 pitch from Fultz.

Jose Guillen then popped up off the end of the bat. Left fielder Jason Michaels was playing deep, got a late jump and couldn’t make a diving grab.

Johnson ran for Broussard and advanced to third on Beltre’s flyout, and Morse hit a one-hop smash that shortstop Jhonny Peralta couldn’t handle and bounced into left field.

“There’s no excuses, those are plays that need to be made and they need to understand that,” Wedge said of the 10th.