Boston @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2012 ) Boston 1, Seattle 2

The Seattle Mariners just got finished with a winning road trip against a pair of strong teams in the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds. The schedule does not get much easier Monday, when the Mariners return home to open a four-game series against the American League-leading Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox are coming off a rare set of losses, but still lead the East by 4 1/2 games over Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

Boston was riding a five-game winning streak when it squandered a four-run, ninth-inning lead at Los Angeles on Saturday and lost in extra innings. The top offense in baseball failed to score in a 3-0 loss Sunday and will be trying to avoid its first three-game losing streak since May 11-14. Seattle’s staff has allowed two or fewer runs in each of its four July victories.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, New England Sports Network (Boston), ROOT Sports (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (8-4, 4.41 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-4, 2.69)

Lester, who is from nearby Tacoma, Wash., put together his best start in nearly two months last time out, when he held the San Diego Padres to a run on six hits in seven innings. The veteran left-hander had surrendered at least four earned runs in each of his previous four outings. Lester is 3-2 with a 4.43 ERA in seven career starts in front of his hometown fans at Seattle.

Hernandez was named to the AL All-Star team Saturday and has not lost since May 25. The Venezuela native has had some trouble keeping the ball in the park lately, however, yielding five home runs in his last three outings. Hernandez has always been strong against Boston and owns a 6-2 record with a 3.18 ERA in 12 career starts against the Red Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury has hit in 17 straight games.

2. Seattle rookie 2B Nick Franklin has homered in each of his last two starts.

3. Boston RF Shane Victorino (hamstring) sat out on Sunday and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Mariners 4, Red Sox 2