Seattle @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2013 ) Seattle 3, Oakland 2

Felix Hernandez regularly frustrates Oakland batters and strives to do so again on Saturday, when the Seattle Mariners visit the Athletics for the second contest of a three-game series. Hernandez allowed three hits in 7 2/3 scoreless innings while beating Oakland in the season opener to improve to 14-6 with a 2.70 ERA in 27 career starts against the Athletics. Seattle won the series opener 3-2 to take a 5-3 lead in the season series.

Oakland’s loss on Friday snapped its 11-game home winning streak and was just its sixth overall defeat in the last 27 games. Mariners rookie catcher Mike Zunino, the third overall pick in the 2012 draft, hit his first major-league homer to put Seattle ahead for good. Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes (hamstring) was back in the lineup Friday and went hitless in four at-bats, while third baseman Josh Donaldson (hamstring) could miss his second straight contest on Saturday.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (7-4, 2.49 ERA) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (5-5, 3.78)

Hernandez settled for a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last start despite allowing only one run and five hits in seven innings. He is 2-0 over his last three outings and has given up six runs in 22 1/3 innings during the stretch after being touched up for 10 runs and 19 hits in 10 2/3 frames over his previous two starts. Hernandez is 5-2 with a 1.96 ERA in eight road starts this season.

Griffin is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners and allowed two runs in six innings while beating Seattle on April 4. He is winless in his last three outings, including a loss to the Chicago White Sox in his most recent turn when he gave up four runs and seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. Griffin has served up 13 home runs overall this year and at least two in five of his 13 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics OF Chris Young batted leadoff for the first time this season on Friday and reached base four times, going 3-for-3 with a homer and a walk.

2. Mariners rookie 2B Nick Franklin had two hits and is 5-for-9 over the last two games.

3. Oakland OFs Coco Crisp (.192 in 52 at-bats) and Josh Reddick (.160 in 25 at-bats) typically struggle against Hernandez.

PREDICTION: Mariners 3, Athletics 0