Jose Lopez’s HR and 2 RBIs lead Seattle Mariners to 4-2 victory over Minnesota Twins

Lopez leads Mariners to 4-2 victory over Twins

SEATTLE — Jose Lopez homered and drove in two runs, leading Erik Bedard and the Seattle Mariners to a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Russell Branyan and Jamie Burke also homered for the Mariners, who took two of three from Minnesota and have won three consecutive series. Lopez finished with three hits.

After the Twins tied it at 2 in the fifth inning, Lopez put Seattle in front again with a leadoff homer in the bottom half. With two outs, Burke, just called up from the minors, added a solo shot that chased starter Kevin Slowey (8-2).

Bedard (5-2) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out four.

Seattle’s bullpen combined for four shutout innings, with Sean White earning his first career save.

Branyan gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead with a first-inning homer. He fouled off three consecutive pitches with a full count before driving the ball over the center-field fence.

Slowey has allowed five homers in two starts against Seattle this season. Branyan and Lopez each connected off Slowey on April 8.

Adrian Beltre opened the third with a single and scored from first on Lopez’s one-out double.

Denard Span drew a leadoff walk for Minnesota in the fifth and Joe Mauer doubled, sending Span to third. Justin Morneau hit an RBI groundout, with Lopez making a sliding stop at second. Joe Crede followed with a sacrifice fly.