Los Angeles @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( May 8, 2010 ) LA Angels 4, Seattle 3
The Seattle Mariners are grasping for answers to snap out of an offensive malaise when they close a three-game series and nine-game homestand against the Los Angeles Angels this afternoon at Safeco Field.
Nothing has seemed to work for the Mariners, who have dropped eight consecutive games - all at home - and are on the verge of being swept for the third consecutive series.
Maybe a switch to the pink bats that many players will be swinging to help celebrate Mother’s Day and breast cancer awareness around the majors will help Seattle. It certainly can’t hurt.
The Mariners have not lost nine straight games at home since a franchise-record 11-game slide from Aug. 16-Sept. 10, 1989, at the Kingdome.
Seattle came close to ending its losing streak Saturday night, taking the Angels into the 10th inning before losing 4-3.
The Mariners showed more patience, drawing a season-high nine walks, and managed three extra-base hits. But they could not produce the winning run and left the bases loaded in the ninth after winning pitcher Fernando Rodney issued three walks.
They stranded 12 runners and were just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
In the end, Angels designated hitter Hideki Matsui got some joy out of a terrible slump (4-for-45) with a single to drive in Bobby Abreu, who led off the 10th with a double against Seattle closer David Aardsma (0-2).
Aardsma allowed four hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings.
Matsui’s RBI was his 1,500th of his career, including 10 years in Japan. Manager Mike Scioscia had said he might keep Matsui out of the lineup today.
Los Angeles, which was 0-7 on its road trip before arriving in Seattle, looks to close out the Mariners with right-handed veteran Ervin Santana.
Santana has gotten little run support, with Los Angeles scoring just 21 runs in his six starts. He is 6-3 with a 4.18 ERA in 15 career starts against the Mariners.
The Mariners counter with another left-hander, Jason Vargas (2-2, 3.69 ERA). Vargas is coming off a career-high eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings against Tampa Bay.
The Angels placed shortstop Maicer Izturis on the disabled list Saturday because of inflammation in his right shoulder. Izturis aggravated the shoulder when he dove for a ball last week and he will have the shoulder examined Monday.
Kevin Frandsen, who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace Izturis, went 3 for 4 and scored one run Saturday.