SEATTLE, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Ruben Sierra's two-out, two-run single snapped an eighth-inning tie Monday night as the Seattle Mariners handed the Minnesota Twins their season-high fifth straight loss, 5-2.
Sierra had just one hit in 12 at-bats as a pinch hitter this year. But he lined a single to the gap in right center-field off reliever LaTroy Hawkins, scoring Bret Boone and pinch runner Luis Ugueto to give the Mariners a 4-2 lead.
Despite its longest losing streak of the season, Minnesota leads the second-place Chicago White Sox by 12 games in the American League Central. But its magic number for clinching the division title remained 13.
Hawkins came on for Johan Santana (8-6), who took the loss despite recording a career-high nine strikeouts.
Arthur Rhodes (8-3) struck out the side in the eighth for the win and Kazuhiro Sasaki worked a hitless ninth for his 34th save in 39 chances.
