Los Angeles @ Seattle preview
Safeco Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2013 ) LA Angels 0, Seattle 6
The Seattle Mariners attempt to complete a sweep Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Angels in the finale of their three-game set. Seattle used the long ball to snap its three-game losing streak Friday, belting four home runs in an 8-3 series-opening triumph. Ace Felix Hernandez was the difference in Saturday's 6-0 victory as he tossed eight stellar innings en route to his fifth straight win.
Justin Smoak had an RBI single and a three-run homer, extending Seattle's franchise record to 21 consecutive games with a blast. The Angels lost for just the fifth time in 16 contests and fell 10 games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics in the American League West. Los Angeles has been outscored 14-3 over the first two games of the series.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), ROOT Sports (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Joe Blanton (2-11, 5.40 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (7-4, 2.97)
Blanton is coming off a rough outing in Chicago, where he surrendered six runs and eight hits over five innings in a loss to the Cubs on Tuesday. The 32-year-old is just 1-4 in his last eight starts despite allowing three runs or fewer five times in that span. Blanton held Seattle to two runs and struck out a season high-tying 11 over 6 2/3 frames in a no-decision on June 18 to remain 8-6 lifetime against the Mariners.
Iwakuma has hit the skids of late, going 0-3 with a 6.83 ERA over his last five starts. The 32-year-old Tokyo native escaped with a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday after surrendering six runs and eight hits in only three innings. Iwakuma is 4-0 with a 1.02 ERA in six career games (five starts) versus the Angels, but came away with a no-decision April 28 despite allowing just an unearned run and three hits over six frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Seattle's home run streak is the longest in the American League since Texas set the major-league record in 2002 with a 27-game run.
2. The Angels have not been swept in a three-game series in Seattle since Sept. 12-14, 2005.
3. Mariners 3B Kyle Seager enters the series finale with a 13-game hitting streak after going 2-for-3 on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Mariners 5, Angels 4