Seattle, WA (My Sportsbook) - Jose Lopez's two-run double in the bottom of the eighth was the difference, as the Seattle Mariners edged the Minnesota Twins, 8-7, in the middle contest of a three-game set at Safeco Field.

Raul Ibanez had three hits, including a three-run homer, scored two runs and knocked in five for Seattle, which has won three games in a row. Ichiro Suzuki finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored.

"I feel blessed," said Ibanez. "It's working out and I'll just keep trying to do whatever I can to help out the club. Most importantly, we've been playing well together and not giving in. It was a nice effort by the whole team."

The hot-hitting Ibanez has 14 RBI in his last three games, tying a club record set by Ken Griffey Jr. in April of 1999.

R.A. Dickey tossed seven solid inning for the Mariners, but did not receive a decision. The knuckleballer gave up three runs on eight hits. J.J. Putz (4-4) overcame a precarious ninth to get the win.

Jason Kubel was 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored for the Twins, who have dropped three of their last four and trail the Chicago White Sox by a game for first place in the AL Central.

Minnesota starter Scott Baker allowed six runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, but came away with a no-decision. Matt Guerrier (6-5) was charged with two runs in just one-third of an inning and took the loss.

Trailing 6-3, the Twins forged ahead with four runs in the top of the eighth. Cesar Jimenez came on in relief for the M's and gave up a one-out double to Justin Morneau. Kubel followed with a blast to the seats in right. Roy Corcoran then took over on the mound and retired Delmon Young on a grounder. Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris stroked back-to-back singles, which resulted in another pitching change.

Putz got the call and pinch-hitter Mike Lamb greeted him with a two-run double for a 7-6 Twins advantage. Guerrier was assigned to protect the lead, but the M's rallied in the home eighth. Suzuki led off with a single and, after Jeremy Reed fouled out, Ibanez smacked a single to right, which chased Guerrier from the mound. In came closer Joe Nathan and he got Adrian Beltre to line out before Lopez's double restored the lead for Seattle.

The Twins had one last gasp in the ninth. Putz fanned the first two batters, then walked Morneau and yielded a double to Kubel. After Young was intentionally walked to load the bases, pinch-hitter Mike Redmond flied out to end the game.

Minnesota opened the scoring in the second. Kubel and Young singled to begin the frame, and a Buscher groundout moved both runners into scoring position. Dickey then uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed Kubel to cross the plate and Young to move up to third. Brendan Harris' sacrifice fly made it a 2-0 game.

The Mariners pulled ahead with four runs in the third. Suzuki and Reed singled before Ibanez hammered a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right.

"He's (Ibanez) hotter than a match," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "(It) seems like if we make a good pitch on him he hits it hard, bad pitch he hits it hard. He's just a good hitter and right now we're catching him on a real hot streak. We're trying to make pitches on him, we're just not making enough of them."

One out later, Lopez and Jeff Clement stroked consecutive singles to put men on the corners for the recently recalled Wladimir Balentien, whose sac fly drove in the Mariners' fourth run.

The Twins had the bases loaded with two outs in the fifth, but Dickey emerged unscathed by getting Morneau to pop out to the inning.

Kubel's lead-off home run in the sixth made it a 4-3 game, but Seattle countered in the bottom half. Bryan LaHair went down swinging, but advanced to first on a wild pitch. Yuniesky Betancourt followed with a ground-rule double and Suzuki was intentionally walked to load the bases. Craig Breslow was summoned from the bullpen and, two batters later, Ibanez delivered with a two-run single for a 6-3 Mariners lead.

Game Notes

Suzuki is riding an 11-game hitting streak...It was the first multi-homer game of Kubel's career...The Mariners left 10 men on base, while Minnesota stranded nine...Balentien was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday after the club designated Jose Vidro for assignment. Seattle also optioned pitcher Brandon Morrow to Tacoma and recalled pitcher Jared Wells from their top minor league affiliate.