Suzuki’s leadoff home run is enough

SEATTLE —  Ichiro Suzuki lined James Shields’ second pitch of the game for a home run and ace Felix Hernandez helped his injury-riddled team with a seven-inning gem in the Seattle Mariner’s 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.

David Aardsma pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts. Brandon Morrow walked Pat Burrell with one out in the ninth and sent pinch-runner Gabe Kapler to second with a wild pitch. But Morrow got Ben Zobrist to pop out and Dioner Navarro to fly out for his fifth save in five chances, as the first-place Mariners finished their first homestand of the season 5-4.

It was the 22nd time in major league history that a leadoff homer was the deciding run in a game.