Seattle @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2013 ) Seattle 12, NY Yankees 2

Raul Ibanez left quite a legacy in his one season with the New York Yankees, belting a string of dramatic homers down the stretch and in the postseason a year ago. A return to Yankee Stadium with the Seattle Mariners has jump-started Ibanez, who has slammed three homers and knocked in eight runs in the first two games of the series. Seattle has not lost a series in the last five and aims to keep that streak intact in the rubber game with the Yankees on Thursday.

New York fell into a 7-0 hole before coming to bat in Wednesday's 12-2 loss. A comeback hardly seemed likely for a team that has been held to four runs or fewer in 11 of its last 13 games. The Yankees were able to save their bullpen despite Phil Hughes lasting only two-thirds of an inning, even using infielder Alberto Gonzalez to get the final out. Veteran left-hander Andy Pettitte will oppose Seattle's Aaron Harang in the series finale.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Seattle), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Aaron Harang (1-4, 7.30 ERA) vs. Yankees LH Andy Pettitte (4-2, 3.83)

Harang was originally scheduled to start the series opener but was pushed back two days. After back-to-back rocky outings in which he failed to get through the fifth inning, Harang was solid in his last two starts. He took the loss at Pittsburgh on May 7 despite allowing only two runs on five hits in six innings. He went six innings to beat Baltimore in his previous turn, holding Baltimore to two runs on four hits. Harang has never faced the Yankees.

Pettitte had a strong bounce-back performance last time out, stifling Kansas City on two runs in seven innings to end a three-start winless streak. He had been roughed out in his previous two starts, surrendering a combined 11 runs over 9 1/3 innings. Pettitte has had his issues against the Mariners in his lengthy career, logging an 11-12 record and 4.39 ERA in 24 career starts. He has kept Ibanez in check, holding him to six hits with seven strikeouts in 24 at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Mariners are the only American League team that Pettitte has a losing record against.

2. Yankees 1B Lyle Overbay is batting .458 (11-for-24) with five doubles against Harang.

3. Mariners LF Jason Bay is 14-for-35 with a homer and three RBIs against Pettitte.

PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Mariners 3