SEATTLE, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Bartolo Colon, whose erratic performances this year left the Cleveland Indians puzzled, showed why he is still considered one of the most talented righthanders in the game Tuesday by tossing eight brilliant innings in a stunning 5-0 triumph over the Seattle Mariners.
Cleveland took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Series behind a dominant performance by the 26-year-old from the Dominican Republic. Just 14-12 with a 4.09 ERA this season and coming off an outing in which he surrendered six runs in 1 1/3 innings, Colon surrendered just six hits and two walks Tuesday.
Behind a blazing fastball that overmatched all the Mariners with the exception of Japanese rookie sensation Ichiro Suzuki, Colon struck out 10 and allowed just one batter to reach third base. As his been the case throughout his five-year career, Colon got stronger as the game went on.
Bob Wickman completed the six-hitter by striking out two in a perfect ninth.
The win puts the Mariners, who tied the major league record with 116 victories during the regular season, in a precarious situation. Cleveland seized home-field advantage in the series and with scheduled days off Wednesday and Friday could bring back Colon for Game Four.
