Oakland @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 16, 2013 ) Seattle 2, Oakland 10

Bartolo Colon puts a six-start winning streak on the line when the Oakland Athletics begin a three-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Friday. The 40-year-old Colon has allowed just five earned runs during the winning streak, two of them coming during a seven-inning stint when he defeated the Mariners last Sunday in Oakland. Hisashi Iwakuma lost to Colon with one of his worst outings in a strong season that has made him a solid All-Star candidate.

The Athletics lost three of four against Texas to see their lead in the American League West reduced to one game over the Rangers, while Seattle just lost three of four to the Los Angeles Angels. The Mariners had a seven-run lead with Felix Hernandez on the mound in Thursday’s series finale and ended up losing 10-9 despite four hits and three RBIs from third baseman Kyle Seager. Oakland is 4-6 against Seattle this season and lost two of three at home to the Mariners last weekend.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), ROOT (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Bartolo Colon (9-2, 2-89 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (7-2, 2.06)

Colon hasn’t allowed a run in three of his last six starts and tossed a five-hit, complete-game shutout against the Chicago White Sox on May 31. He has walked just 10 batters in 14 starts, with four of the walks occurring in one outing. Colon is 17-12 with a 3.92 ERA in 34 career starts against Seattle.

Iwakuma lasted just five innings against the Athletics last Sunday, allowing four runs and matching a season high by giving up eight hits. He gave up just two earned runs in 30 2/3 innings over a four-start span before struggling against Oakland and allowing his second-most runs this season. Iwakuma beat Oakland twice earlier in the season and is 2-3 with a 4.26 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Athletics.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle OF Jason Bay (hamstring) has missed four straight games but could return during the weekend series.

2. Oakland CF Yoenis Cespedes is 5-for-12 with two homers against Iwakuma.

3. Mariners 1B/DH Kendrys Morales is 1-for-14 against Colon.

PREDICTION: Athletics 2, Mariners 1