Seattle @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2010 ) Seattle 3, Texas 1
Since his team clinched its first playoff berth since 1999 on Saturday, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington decided to rest some of his regulars on Tuesday. The Seattle Mariners took advantage and, as a result, are on the verge of a feat they haven't achieved in eight years.
The Mariners attempt to complete a sweep today when they take on the Rangers in the finale of their three-game series at Rangers Ballpark.
Seattle won Monday's opener thanks to Justin Smoak, who hit a decisive three-run homer against his former team. Acquired from Texas in the July trade that brought Cliff Lee to the Rangers, Smoak struck again on Tuesday, belting a two-run shot in the fourth inning that snapped a tie and gave the Mariners a 3-1 victory.
Cy Young Award candidate Felix Hernandez did his part, limiting Texas to one run and five hits over eight innings. It was the ninth time in his last 10 starts the 24-year-old allowed fewer than two earned runs.
But on this occasion, it happened against a lineup devoid of a number of regulars. Washington gave Vladimir Guerrero, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus the night off, making his lineup easy pickings for Hernandez.
The loss was the second in a row for the Rangers, who fell to 11-7 against the Mariners this season. It also set up Seattle for a chance to complete its first sweep in Texas since taking a four-game series in 2002.
The Mariners have not swept a road series since winning three games at Oakland in April 2009. Their last sweep of any kind came at home against Cincinnati from June 18-20.
Needing two more wins to avoid a 100-loss season, Seattle will give the ball to Jason Vargas, who is winless since defeating Cleveland on Aug. 14.
Vargas has lost seven consecutive starts, leaving him one shy of the club record shared by Rick Honeycutt (1980) and Randy Johnson (1992). The left-hander has surrendered 30 earned runs over 41 innings during his dubious stretch for a 6.59 ERA.
In his last outing, Vargas yielded five runs and six hits in 4 1/3 innings en route to a 5-3 loss at Tampa Bay.
The 27-year-old has posted a 1-3 record and 5.81 ERA in seven career games - five starts - against Texas. This season, Vargas is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA in three outings vs. the Rangers.
Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz has recorded four hits in 13 career at-bats against Vargas, with two being home runs.
Vargas will be making his 15th road start of 2010. He is 2-7 with a 5.20 ERA away from Safeco Field.
Looking to finish their nine-game road trip at 5-4, the Mariners will face Rich Harden, who is making his first start since allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 5-0 loss to Oakland on Aug. 28.
Harden, whose last two appearances have been in relief, has not pitched since giving up a run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning against the New York Yankees on Sept. 11. The oft-injured right-hander is 5-5 with a 5.17 ERA in 17 starts this year but has lost two of his last three.
The 28-year-old Harden has pitched well against Seattle over his career, going 5-2 with a 1.90 ERA in 11 meetings - eight starts - but has not faced the Mariners since 2007. He is 2-2 with a 3.95 ERA in eight starts and a relief appearance at home this season.