Chicago, IL (My Sportsbook) - Yuniesky Betancourt hit his first career grand slam and Raul Ibanez added a three-run home run as the Seattle Mariners held off the Chicago White Sox, 7-6, in the second matchup of a three-game set from U.S. Cellular Field.

Ibanez finished with three hits and Richie Sexson and Jose Lopez had two hits apiece for the Mariners, who have won four of five and 10 of 14 overall. They remain one percentage point ahead of the New York Yankees for the AL Wild Card lead.

Seattle starter Miguel Batista (12-8) threw 5 2/3 innings, yielding two runs on six hits, while walking four and striking out six.

"We got a lead and held on," said Seattle manager John McLaren. "Guys are coming around with the bats."

Josh Fields drilled his first career grand slam for the White Sox, who have lost three of five since a four-game winning streak.

"The more playing time he has, the more he'll get better," said Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen about Fields. "This kid is going to strikeout a lot, but also get on base a lot."

Gavin Floyd (1-2) went four innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Jose Contreras pitched five scoreless frames in relief.

Seattle quickly jumped ahead with three runs in the first. With one out, Jose Vidro walked and Jose Guillen singled to left-center before Ibanez crushed a homer to left, his 11th of the season.

Chicago got on the board in the third when Jerry Owens' one-out single to left scored Scott Podsednik, who led off with a single to right and stole second.

The Mariners pulled away in the fourth thanks to Betancourt's grand slam. Sexson singled with one out, Kenji Johjima was hit by a pitch and Lopez slapped a base hit to left. Betancourt then cleared the bags with a homer into the seats in left-center.

Fields' one-out single to left in the fifth scored Danny Richar, who walked earlier in the inning. The White Sox then loaded the bases with two outs, but Batista struck out Darin Erstad on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.

The White Sox pulled within one, 7-6, in the ninth. They loaded the bases against a pair of relievers with no outs before J.J. Putz entered and surrendered Fields' homer to center, his third homer in two days. Putz, though, retired the next three hitters for his 34th save in 36 opportunities.

Game Notes

Batista's 12 wins are a career-high...Contreras made his second appearance out of the bullpen this season...It was Ibanez's fifth homer in five days and his 11th of the season...Fields has 12 homers on the year, while Betancourt has eight...Attendance was 38,210.