Oakland @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2010 ) Oakland 1, Seattle 3
Seattle Mariners interim manager Daren Brown ultimately may not be the long-term answer for the dreadful club, but plenty went right on his first day on the job.
Brown, 43, was brought up from Triple-A Tacoma to replace manager Don Wakamatsu, who was fired by the Mariners on Monday after nearly two seasons, including a 42-70 record in 2010.
Wakamatsu was given a vote of confidence from general manager Jack Zduriencik on Aug. 2, but was released along with pitching coach Rick Adair and bench coach Ty Van Burkleo.
Seattle posted a 3-1 triumph over the Oakland Athletics on Monday to give Brown a victory in his major-league debut. The Mariners also turned their first triple play since 1995 in the fourth inning.
Third baseman Jose Lopez stepped on the bag then got the force-out at second by Chone Figgins, who threw to first baseman Casey Kotchman just as Oakland’s Mark Ellis touched the bag. Ellis argued to no avail.
Seattle right-hander Doug Fister also snapped a career-high seven-game losing streak. He allowed one run and seven hits in six innings with five strikeouts and one walk.
Fister had not won since May 14 against the Tampa Bay Rays. In addition, he had gone 16 starts since winning at home on April 19 against the Baltimore Orioles.
The Mariners will try to win their third consecutive game on Tuesday night for the first time since claiming six in a row from June 16-23.
Ace Felix Hernandez is 7-9 despite the sixth-best ERA in the American League (2.94). He will oppose left-hander Brett Anderson (3-2, 3.14).
Hernandez is still considered an outside candidate for the Cy Young Award, but cannot afford any more losses. The right-hander is 0-4 in five starts since the All-Star break with an ERA of 2.70.
Hernandez has had to be almost perfect as the Mariners average less than one run for him since the All-Star break. Hernandez's team has not scored for him in his last 18 innings.
He is coming off a 6-0 loss to the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Thursday. He tossed six scoreless innings before permitting three runs in the seventh.
Anderson pitched twice against the Mariners in April, throwing six scoreless innings each time and striking out 10 total.
He was on the disabled list for most of June and July with a sore elbow.
Anderson allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings in a victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. He has yet to give up a home run in 43 innings this season.
Mariners starting shortstop Jack Wilson is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday. Wilson broke his hand when he slipped in his bathroom on Sunday and is likely out for the remainder of the season. He was replaced on the roster by infielder Chris Woodward.
Oakland first baseman Chris Carter made his major-league debut on Monday, going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The A’s also recalled Jeff Larish from Triple-A Sacramento and placed outfielder Matt Watson on the 15-day disabled list with kidney stones and optioned outfielder Matt Carson to Sacramento.