Things didn't go Seattle's way

SEATTLE (AP) -- Ichiro Suzuki couldn't get a hit when it mattered most. He couldn't steal a base when it really counted, either.

When the Seattle Mariners won a record-tying 116 games during the regular season, just about everything went right for them.

In their AL playoff opener against Bartolo Colon and the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, nothing went right.

"We've been getting key hits all season," John Olerud said. "Everybody has been coming through for us. Today, we just didn't get the big hit. But I think you've got to give Colon a lot of credit. He had a good, live fastball."

Suzuki, the 2001 AL batting champion in his rookie season, singled in his first two at-bats and doubled in his final at-bat in the Mariners' 5-0 loss.

But with Seattle threatening with runners on first and second in the fifth, Suzuki hit a line drive that center fielder Kenny Lofton caught by cutting in front of left fielder Marty Cordova to end the inning.

That was how the game went for the Mariners, who tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the most victories in history.

Suzuki led all major league hitters during the regular season with a .445 batting average (61-for-137) with runners in scoring position.

Of course, Colon was dominating for eight innings. He shut out the Mariners, who were blanked four times during the regular season, on six hits, with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

"He had a lot to do with us not getting key hits," Mike Cameron said. "We didn't get any good swings on the guy. He was dominant today."

The Mariners had runners in scoring position in three other innings. Each time, they failed to get a key hit off Colon.

Dan Wilson grounded out with a runner on second to end the second, Olerud struck out with a runner on third to end the sixth and Mark McLemore struck out and Bret Boone fouled out to end the eighth after a double by Suzuki.

"We just weren't able to get the hits when we needed to," Wilson said.

In the fourth, Olerud, who struck three times and went 0-for-4, hit a one-hopper that first baseman Jim Thome turned into a double play.

"It was a good play," Olerud said. "I really smoked that ball. He just picked it."

Cleveland's Omar Vizquel pointed out the Indians won with Suzuki, Seattle's leadoff hitter, getting on base three times.

"He was pretty much their only base runner," Vizquel said. "If we can keep doing that, we have a pretty good chance to win."

Suzuki singled with one out in the third, but was caught on a pitchout called by manager Charlie Manuel when he attempted to steal second. He led the majors with 56 stolen bases, but had only one against the Indians.

Suzuki blamed himself for getting caught stealing.

"I was not surprised," he said through an interpreter. "As a baserunner, that's a play you should anticipate."

Before the game, Seattle manager Lou Piniella acted surprised when he was informed of Suzuki's stolen base total against Cleveland this season and promised to add to that number in the playoff series.

"Let's put it this way," Piniella said. "If he gets on base, I think he'll have a chance to steal more than one base in this series."

Suzuki didn't get his first postseason stolen base, but Edgar Martinez, 38, Seattle's designated hitter and slowest player on the team, got one in the sixth when he caught Colon napping and stole second.

Catcher Einar Diaz was so startled that he committed a throwing error on the play that allowed Martinez to go to third.

That was about the only thing that went right for the Mariners all day.

"Edgar was on his own," Piniella said. "If you would have told me we were going to steal one base today and Edgar was the guy -- yeah, that was a good play."