Seattle @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2013 ) Seattle 9, Texas 2

Felix Hernandez attempts to halt his woes against Texas when the Seattle Mariners face the Rangers in Wednesday’s second contest of a three-game set. The former Cy Young Award winner has lost both his starts against Texas this season – allowing 21 hits in 12 1/3 innings – to drop to 12-18 with a 3.87 ERA in 36 career starts against the Rangers. Texas starter Derek Holland is fresh off his sixth career shutout, a two-hitter of the New York Yankees.

Seattle routed Texas 9-2 in Tuesday’s opener as designated hitter Kendrys Morales slugged two homers and had six RBIs. It was the fourth time Morales has posted six RBIs in a game, with one of them coming against the Rangers last season when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels. Texas hopes to get designated hitter Lance Berkman back in the lineup after a four-game absence due to knee woes.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), Fox South Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-4, 2.70 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (6-4, 3.14)

Hernandez struck out 11 – his second-best output of the season – while allowing two runs and six hits in seven innings in a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last start. He gave up season highs for runs (seven) and hits (12) in five innings against the Los Angeles Angels in his previous turn. Hernandez is 6-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 10 road starts this season.

Holland had allowed four runs in three straight starts and hadn’t won since May 31 prior to his stellar outing against the Yankees. He struck out a season-high 10 and gave up two unearned runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings while beating the Mariners on May 25. Holland is 8-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 14 career appearances (10 starts) against Seattle.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers OF Leonys Martin went 2-for-4 on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 15 games.

2. Mariners OF Raul Ibanez clubbed his 20th homer in the opener to mark the sixth time in major-league history a player 41 years or older has hit 20 or more in a season. Ted Williams holds the record of 29 in 1960.

3. Texas OF Nelson Cruz has four homers against Hernandez but also has fanned 15 times in 56 at-bats.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Mariners 4