Seattle @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 1, Seattle 2
"Michael Saunders, Boston Red Sox Killer" doesn’t exactly have the ring of baseball’s great nicknames, but the Seattle Mariners left fielder proved deadly in his team's last two games.
Saunders will try to make another strong impact against Chicago White Sox left-hander John Danks as the teams open a four-game series Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field. The Mariners will counter with ace Felix Hernandez.
It was Saunders’ overthrow in the fifth inning on Friday night that went wide of shortstop Jack Wilson and past frozen second baseman Chone Figgins that led to what the Mariners have called a turning point in their moribund season.
Figgins was chastised and benched by manager Don Wakamatsu after the play and a fracas ensued in the Mariners’ dugout with plenty of pushing and shoving.
After tempers cooled down, the Mariners got back to winning.
Saunders ended Jon Lester’s no-hitter Saturday with a two-run home run in a 5-1 win and also had the go-ahead two-run single in Sunday’s three-run, eighth-inning rally in a 4-2 victory.
Since the melee, Figgins is 3-for-7 with two doubles, two walks and an RBI. He also has recorded two solid defensive plays.
Saunders has been quick to say that the Mariners (39-60) came together after the dugout incident and are done looking back at a miserable season. Whether a two-game winning streak constitutes a turning point remains to be seen, but Saunders has been helping lead the charge.
Overall, Saunders is batting just .189 (7-for-37) against left-handers, but he is batting .556 (5-for-9) in his last four starts against lefties. He has reached base safely in a career-high 14 games and is batting .333 during that stretch with six runs, five RBIs and 10 walks.
Danks (10-7, 3.37 ERA) gave up two hits in 7 2/3 innings in a 4-0 victory over Seattle on Tuesday.
Danks, who is allowing opponents to hit just .165 against him in his last three starts, will try for his fourth consecutive victory. He is 3-0 with a 1.14 ERA in his last four starts against Seattle.
Hernandez is 7-6 but has the second-lowest ERA in the American League at 2.76. He struck out eight and threw eight innings of two-hit ball Wednesday against the White Sox, but was pulled after 93 pitches. Unfortunately for the hurler, he settled for a no-decision as Seattle posted a 2-1 victory in 11 innings.
Hernandez was upset he was taken out of the scoreless game and said he was strong enough to go 11 innings, but Wakamatsu didn’t want to take any chances with his best pitcher.
The White Sox (53-44) will be seeking their eighth consecutive victory at home, something they have not done since June 17-July 2, 2008. They have won 14 of 15 at home and eight of nine in Chicago against the Mariners.