HUGH BETTER BELIEVE IT: FITZPATRICK HITS 2 HOMERS AS M'S GO TO 2-1

Friday night, April 8th, Kingdome

California (Gary Ross) @ Seattle (Stan Thomas 0-0)

Well, this one goes to the Mariners!  Hugh Fitzpatrick slammed 2 home runs off losing pitcher Gary Ross while the Seattle pitching staff overcame 7 walks allowed and an error by winning pitcher Stan Thomas, plus a 2-run double by Joe Rudi as the M's went over .500 with a 3-2 win.  Fitzpatrick stroked round-trippers in the 2nd and a 2-run shot in the 4th, both homers came with two out.  Meanwhile, Thomas started off with 3 hitless innings, but after walking Bobby Bonds, gave up a single that also included an error by Thomas, setting the table for Rudi who put the Halos ahead with a 2-run double.  But Fitzpatrick responded with a 2-out 2-run homer off Ross, giving Seattle a 3-2 lead, and despite 2 walks and 2 hits allowed by Mike Kekich, and 1 walk and a hit allowed by Enrique Romo, who got the save, the M's were in the win column.  Fitzpatrick was not the only player with 2 hits - right fielder Leroy Stanton had 2 singles.  This was a day Hugh Fitzpatrick will never forget - hitting 2 homers for the first time in his career, and that helped Seattle improve to 2-1 in the young season.

ANGELS      000 200 000 - 2 5 0 Ross (L), Miller and Humphrey

MARINERS  010 200 00   - 3 7 1 Thomas (1-0), Kekich, Romo (1) and Stinson

HR: Fitzpatrick 2 (2).

Game 4 of this inaugural series on Opening Week continues as Gary Wheelock is on the bump for the Mariners while Wayne Simpson is pitching for California on Saturday night, April 9th.