Seattle, WA (My Sportsbook) - Ryan Rowland-Smith threw seven strong innings to help the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 win in the second of three games at Safeco Field against the Minnesota Twins.

Adrian Beltre went 3-for-4 with a run scored while Jeff Clement drove in a pair of runs for the Mariners, who have won three straight. Rowland-Smith (3-2) gave up just two runs on five hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts.

"We had some timely hitting, some really good hitting today, a good game all around," said Rowland-Smith. "It was a good team effort, offense, great defense and Roy (Corcoran) coming in and getting through the meat of that order, Mauer and Morneau, getting through those guys is a pretty big deal."

Randy Ruiz hit his first career home run while Scott Baker (7-4) got the loss for giving up three runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings for the Twins, who have dropped four straight and are now two games behind Chicago, which defeated Baltimore on Tuesday, for first place in the AL Central.

"That was another tough game here for us," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "It was really tough to get back the runs we gave them and then turn around and give the run back right away. We'll have to come out tomorrow and try to get a win against these guys."

With the score tied in the sixth, Seattle grabbed the lead. Beltre led off with a double and moved to third on Raul Ibanez's single. Jose Lopez then singled to bring home Beltre for a 3-2 lead.

Rowland-Smith worked a perfect seventh before handing the ball to Roy Corcoran, who issued a one-out walk in the eight, but got the next two batters out.

Corcoran stayed on in the ninth and allowed a two-out single to Jason Kubel, but got Nick Punto to fly out and pick up his first career save.

The Mariners took the lead in the second inning. Ibanez led off with a walk and Lopez followed with a double. Clement then brought both runners home with a single to center for a 2-0 lead.

The Twins tied the game in the sixth. Alexi Casilla laid down a bunt to lead off the inning and Rowland-Smith's throw to first went wide and Casilla made it to second. Joe Mauer then singled to put runners at the corners and Justin Morneau hit into a double-play that saw Casilla cross the plate. Ruiz followed with a home run over the right field wall to make it a 2-2 contest.

Game Notes

It was Baker's first loss since July 20. He went 1-0 in his previous six starts...Each team has won four games in the season series...The losing streak is the Twins' longest skid since dropping five in a row from July 20-25...Attendance was 26,292.