Seattle 8, Tampa Bay 2

Rookie Carlos Peguero recorded his first career multi-homer game and drove in four runs and Felix Hernandez struck out 11 in seven sharp innings as the Seattle Mariners rolled to an 8-2 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday.
 
The Mariners have won 13 of 17, mostly on the strength of stellar pitching, but the offense carried the load this time. Jack Cust and Justin Smoak also belted one of Seattle's season-high four home runs.
 
For their part, the Rays couldn’t break out of their rut. Tampa Bay’s scoreless streak reached 14 innings before Felipe Lopez had an RBI single in the sixth inning.
 
Cust and Peguero each homered off James Shields (5-4) in a five-run second inning. Cust led off the frame with his first home run in 88 at bats at Safeco Park and Peguero punctuated the outburst by drilling a 1-1 changeup five rows deep into the right-center field seats.
 
That was more than enough support for Hernandez (6-4), who added to his American League-leading strikeout total while winning a second straight decision. The righthander allowed one run and five hits.

• Seattle will play their next game at home against Tampa Bay. The Mariners have a W/L % of .571 after a win and .464 after a loss.
• Tampa Bay will play their next game on the road against Seattle. The Rays have a W/L % of .500 after a win and .538 after a loss.