Los Angeles @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( May 7, 2010 ) LA Angels 8, Seattle 0
The Seattle Mariners must have a fondness for singer/songwriter Paul Simon. In a week’s time, the Mariners have seen a season go from one filled with preseason promise to one that is quickly "Slip Slidin’ Away".
The Mariners have also witnessed it fade at Safeco Field. They have lost seven consecutive games on a homestand that also has seen Milton Bradley leave the team for personal issues and their top two aces lose in back-to-back shutouts. As Simon would say, “You know the nearer your destination, the more you’re slip slidin’ away.”
Seattle dropped an 8-0 decision to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday night. The Angels had been 0-for-May and did not arrive in Seattle until after 4 a.m. Friday after flying in from Boston.
But Anaheim quickly got to ace right-hander Felix Hernandez, scoring four runs in the first inning - including three on Kendry Morales’ double. Hernandez (2-3) essentially gave the Mariners, who have scored just nine runs during their losing streak, no chance before they even came to bat.
Just when it seemed Hernandez had settled down, he had his worst inning as a Mariner. He tied a team record by allowing three home runs in the fourth inning, including the first for fourth-string catcher Ryan Budde.
Jered Weaver, meanwhile, limited Seattle to two hits in 7 1/3 innings and took a no-hitter into the seventh before veteran Ken Griffey Jr. singled with two out. Newcomer Michael Saunders hit a double in the eighth. About the only other positive Seattle could take from Friday’s loss was 5 2/3 hitless innings from its bullpen.
The Mariners have preached the theme of small ball throughout the season, but they haven't been effective. They are hitting just .168 during the seven-game slide.
If the Mariners are to end the losing streak, it could come Saturday night against Joe Saunders. The left-hander is just 1-5 with a 7.04 ERA and has been hit hard in his past three outings (11.57 ERA). He pitched four innings against the Boston Red Sox on Monday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and four walks.
Saunders has been successful at Safeco Field, going 5-0 in six starts with a 2.55 ERA.
The Mariners will send out right-hander Doug Fister, who has the best ERA in the AL at 1.29 and has yet to allow a home run. In his last outing May 2 against Texas, he threw eight shutout innings and had a perfect game through six innings. It was not enough as closer David Aardsma blew a save in the ninth.
Slip slidin’ away indeed.