Despite a high 5.01 earned run average, Beattie's record stood at 3-3 on May 21, following a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. He only won two more games for the rest of the season, and finished at 5-15 with a 4.85 ERA. He started the season in the bullpen, but after getting rocked in three outings, was reassigned to the triple A Pacific Coast League Spokane Indians. He returned to the majors after the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, and pitch an eight inning gem against the California Angels on August 11 for his first victory of the season. Beattie went 3-2 with one save with a 2.02 ERA while holding batters to a .212 batting average in the second half, as opposed to the eight earned runs he gave up in 4.1 innings of work prior to his demotion to Spokane. His one and only career save came during a wild 20 inning game on September 3, 1981. The Mariners defeated the Red Sox at Fenway Park 8-7 in a 20 inning game. Beattie recorded the final out of the game to nail down the victory. His success carried over into the seasons. Despite an 8-12 record, his 3.34 ERA was seventh best in the American League, 140 strikeouts was eighth best, and the .233 batting average he held batters to was sixth best.