The Bum's June MLB POD'S and Stats,News !

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Orioles (41-31) at Tigers (39-30)
Game: 3
Venue: Comerica Park
Date: June 19, 2013 1:08 PM EDT


With arguably the best offense in baseball, the Baltimore Orioles know their biggest area of concern is on the mound. Just not lately when Chris Tillman is there.

Tillman looks to win his fourth straight start Wednesday as the visiting Orioles close a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers.

After spending the first half of last season in the minors, Tillman was a different pitcher upon his return to the Orioles and finished 9-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 15 starts.

Although he had some uneven performances early this season, Tillman (7-2, 3.61 ERA) has been outstanding lately. He is 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts this month, allowing 11 hits in 19 innings.

The right-hander has saved some of his best pitching for the road, where he is 5-0 with a 2.41 ERA in six outings. He's 9-1 with a 2.97 ERA in his past 13 away from Baltimore.

Tillman limited Boston to three hits over six-plus innings and allowed only one runner past second base in a 2-0 victory Friday.

"I said it in the spring," manager Buck Showalter said. "Chris came in full aware that he was out of options. But he pitched like a guy who had three and didn't want to go to (Triple-A) Norfolk. And that shows a lot of maturity, because he wanted to be a guy for us this year - and he has been so far."

Tillman is 1-0 in four starts against the Tigers but hasn't faced them since April 7, 2011.

One night after they were shut down by Max Scherzer, the Orioles (41-31) bounced back with two home runs off Justin Verlander in a 5-2 victory Tuesday. Adam Jones hit a three-run shot and J.J. Hardy added a two-run blast in support of Zach Britton's first win since Sept. 4.

"We battled against (Verlander)," said Jones, who has four homers and 13 RBIs in his last 10 games. "Sometimes you get beat, and tonight, we beat him."

With its seventh win in 10 games overall, Baltimore improved to 11-5 this season against division leaders Boston, Detroit (39-30) and Oakland.

The Orioles have homered in seven straight games, raising their major league-leading total to 95. They also rank among the top five in runs, batting average, doubles and slugging percentage.

Detroit's five-game home win streak was snapped despite two hits from Miguel Cabrera, who is 9 for 21 (.429) with three homers and eight RBIs against Baltimore this year.

He's 3 for 7 with a home run and a double off Tillman.

Something of an afterthought in a loaded rotation, Rick Porcello (4-3, 4.37) has been anything but for the Tigers lately.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.33 ERA in his last four starts. He's stuck out 30 over 27 innings during that span, allowing 15 hits and four walks.

"I've honestly really felt confident all year," Porcello said. "I like what I've been working on, especially in the offseason going into spring training, and I'm starting to get some good results from it now."

He got more of that in a 4-0 win at Minnesota on Friday, yielding three hits without a walk in seven innings.

Porcello is 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA in six career starts against the Orioles, who reached him for three runs over six innings in a 4-2 victory June 2.

Chris Davis homered in that game and has gone deep twice off Porcello in nine career at_bats. Davis was 0 for 4 on Tuesday after hitting his major league-best 24th homer and fourth in six games in the series opener.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Orioles at Tigers
Mon, Jun 17 Final 1 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Orioles at Tigers
Tue, Jun 18 Final 5 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Orioles at Tigers
Wed, Jun 19 - 1:08PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Marlins (22-48) at Diamondbacks (38-33)
Game: 3
Venue: Chase Field
Date: June 19, 2013 3:40 PM EDT


Some late-game heroics helped the Arizona Diamondbacks put an end to a losing streak.

The NL West leaders now try to string together consecutive victories for the first time in two weeks Wednesday when they face Miami Marlins rookie Jose Fernandez, who is starting to find his groove.

The Diamondbacks (38-33) won 3-2 Tuesday on Paul Goldschmidt's walkoff home run, ending a season-high tying four-game slide as well as the Marlins' three-game win streak. Goldschmidt's homer was his 17th of the season and the second game-ending home run of his career.

Goldschmidt had been 2 for 13 during the skid, though he homered in Monday's 3-2 defeat to Miami (22-48). Arizona, which hasn't won back-to-back games since June 4 and 5, also played error-free baseball Tuesday after committing one in each of the last four contests.

"Any time it's a walkoff, whether it's you or one of the other guys, it's fun," Goldschmidt said.

Martin Prado also drove in two with a fourth-inning homer for the Diamondbacks, who'll be getting their first look at Fernandez (4-3, 3.11 ERA).

The right-hander's ERA ranks third among rookie starters, and he's also second in strikeouts (77) and opponents' batting average (.210).

"He's so polished for a young pitcher," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "It's amazing how good his secondary pitches are."

The 20-year-old Cuban defector has been dominant through his last three starts, going 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 20 innings. He limited St. Louis to three runs through seven innings while striking out 10 - the first pitcher younger than 21 with double-digit strikeouts since Felix Hernandez did it in 2007 - in Friday's 5-4 win.

Still, Fernandez doesn't seem to quite grasp how good he has been, finding himself star-struck at times.

"One of the special moments in the game: The first time I went up to hit, Yadier Molina was catching," he said. "I look up to that guy. When they won the World Series, I saw him catch and I said, 'Man, I wish one day I could shake his hand.'"

Fernandez matches up with Trevor Cahill (3-8, 3.96), who is winless in his last five starts.

Cahill matched a career high with 10 strikeouts while allowing two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings in Friday's 2-1 loss at San Diego after yielding 13 runs over 8 2-3 innings in his previous two outings.

The Diamondbacks have supplied Cahill with one or zero runs of support in four of his last five outings.

"Right from the get-go he was pretty darn good," said bench coach Alan Trammel, who acted as Arizona's manager while Kirk Gibson served a one-game suspension. "You can't fault anyone for one inning or a few hitters. It goes back to the offense that scored one run."

Cahill is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts versus Miami. He matched a season best by throwing eight innings while holding the Marlins to one run and five hits in a 9-2 victory on May 17.

Arizona's Miguel Montero was 0 for 2 with a walk Tuesday after going 9 for 20 in his previous five games.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Marlins at Diamondbacks
Mon, Jun 17 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Marlins at Diamondbacks
Tue, Jun 18 Final 2 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Marlins at Diamondbacks
Wed, Jun 19 - 3:40PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Padres (36-35) at Giants (36-34)
Game: 3
Venue: AT&T Park
Date: June 19, 2013 3:45 PM EDT


Though Eric Stults has pitched well of late, he's struggled this season against the San Francisco Giants.

Madison Bumgarner, meanwhile, has never lost at home to Stults' San Diego Padres.

Both pitchers will try for a third straight win in Wednesday's decisive series finale between the NL West foes.

San Diego (36-35) had a seven-game winning streak snapped with a 5-4 loss Tuesday. The Padres took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the eighth inning but allowed San Francisco to score twice in the bottom half.

The Giants (36-34) ended losing streaks of three games overall and four to San Diego.

"Every game we lose is tough," said Jesus Guzman, whose two-run shot in the eighth was one of San Diego's three homers. "... This was a game we had to win, but in this ballpark it's hard to beat those guys."

San Diego has not won a series at San Francisco since October 2010, but would have a good chance to end that drought if Stults (6-5, 3.28 ERA) performs well again.

The left-hander has allowed five earned runs over 31 innings in his last four starts while going 2-1. Stults walked only one batter in that span while holding opponents to a .167 average. He recorded his first complete game since 2009 versus San Francisco when he allowed two hits in a 2-1 victory over Arizona on Friday.

"The wide range of velocities keeps the hitters off-balance, disrupts their timing," manager Bub Black said. "He pitches. He truly pitches."

Stults has a 2.26 ERA while going 4-3 in his last nine starts, in which he's received an average 2.40 runs of support.

However, he's 0-1 with an 8.18 ERA in two outings against the Giants this season, though both came in April.

While Stults is 1-2 with a 5.84 ERA in five starts in San Francisco, Bumgarner (6-4, 3.30) has gone 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA in seven home starts versus San Diego - the Giants have won the last six. He gave up two runs and struck out 10 in six innings while not factoring in the decision of a 3-2 win over the Padres at AT&T Park on April 19.

The left-hander allowed two hits and also fanned 10 over seven innings of a 6-0 win at Atlanta on Friday - his second straight victory after a four-start stretch in which he was 0-3 with a 6.29 ERA.

"He really has been consistent all year, but this was up there as one of his best starts," manager Bruce Bochy said.

Brandon Belt had three hits with an RBI on Tuesday, and rookie center fielder Juan Perez delivered the go-ahead single in the eighth after throwing out a runner at the plate in the seventh.

In seven games since making his major league debut June 9, Perez is batting .421 (8 for 19) with three RBIs and has recorded four outfield assists.

"I've got to take advantage of every hour, every day I am here," Perez said. "Just keep it up, do what I'm doing on the field."

While Perez is likely to be in the lineup for the series finale, Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford will sit out after spraining two fingers on his right hand Tuesday.

San Diego's Logan Forsythe is 5 for 10 with a homer in the series. The second baseman is batting .417 with two home runs in his last six games versus San Francisco.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Padres at Giants
Mon, Jun 17 Final 5 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Padres at Giants
Tue, Jun 18 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Padres at Giants
Wed, Jun 19 - 3:45PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Dodgers (29-39) at Yankees (38-31)
Game: 2
Venue: Yankee Stadium
Date: June 19, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


The return of one of the greatest players in New York Yankees' history has been pushed back one day.

Don Mattingly's Dodgers will play a day-night doubleheader Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, the first meeting between these storied franchises in the Bronx since Los Angeles clinched the 1981 World Series.

Rain postponed the scheduled opener of the two-game series Tuesday night, delaying the managerial debut at Yankee Stadium of Mattingly, one of the biggest fan favorites when he was captain of the Yankees.

Mattingly, a six-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove winner and the 1985 AL MVP, had his No. 23 retired to Monument Park after playing his entire 14-year career with New York. The former first baseman returned to the Yankees in 2004 as a coach under Joe Torre. Mattingly, many thought, would replace Torre, but Yankees brass opted for Joe Girardi.

Mattingly left the Yankees and spent the next three seasons as one of Torre's coaches with the Dodgers before taking over as manager in 2011.

"A good feeling coming back," Mattingly said Tuesday. "It's not the building, it's the people. ... So whether it's this building or the one across the street, it's the same."

His team has dropped six of eight to fall a season-worst 10 games below .500. The Dodgers (29-39) opened their nine-game trip by losing two of three to Pittsburgh. Los Angeles has won four of 17 as the visitor.

"It's been kind of the same story and that's that we haven't been able to win a series," Mattingly said after Sunday's 6-3 defeat.

The Yankees (38-31) are back home following a 4-6 trip that ended with Sunday's 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. New York scored five runs in the third inning - a three-run homer from Travis Hafner and RBI hits from Lyle Overbay and Jayson Nix - en route to snapping a five-game skid.

The Yankees hit .199 while averaging 2.7 runs in the previous nine games.

New York will have to generate offense without Mark Teixeira after he exited Saturday's 6-2 loss with an aggravated right wrist. He got a cortisone shot Sunday, and it was determined there were no new tears in the tendon sheath, but he was placed back on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

The Yankees also announced Tuesday that Kevin Youkilis needs back surgery and will miss at least 10 to 12 weeks.

New York will face Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-2, 2.85 ERA) in the opener. The rookie left-hander pitched last Wednesday in an 8-6, 12-inning loss to Arizona, when he allowed three runs and a season-high 11 hits in six innings.

"My fastball was coming over the center off the plate all game, and my velocity really wasn't there," Ryu told the Dodgers' official website. "But I think that's because for the first time in a while (May 22) I went off of four days' rest."

He'll be opposed by ex-Dodger Hiroki Kuroda (6-5, 2.78), who is 4-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his last five home starts. The right-hander was sharp in Oakland on Thursday, yielding two runs, two hits and two walks in eight innings of a 3-2, 18-inning loss.

Kuroda hasn't won since May 17 but isn't entirely to blame considering he's received five runs of support in the five starts since.

Phil Hughes (3-5, 4.89) will try to bounce back from one of his worst outings of the season when he takes the ball for New York in the nightcap. The right-hander walked a career high-tying five in 4 1-3 innings of last Wednesday's 5-2 loss at Oakland.

Hughes allowed an unearned run over seven at Seattle in his previous outing.

"(Putting together consecutive quality starts is) something that he's going through right now," Girardi told the Yankees' official website. "He needs to figure that out for us."

The Dodgers expect to activate Chris Capuano (1-4, 5.45) from the DL to counter Hughes, who is 1-3 with a 6.52 ERA in six home starts.

Capuano has been on the DL since June 4 because of a strained left shoulder and threw 60 pitches in a four-inning rehab assignment for Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday. The left-hander has a 10.61 ERA in losing his two career starts versus New York.

Rookie right fielder Yasiel Puig will make his Yankee Stadium debut after a three-hit effort Sunday lifted his average to .479 since the Dodgers called him up June 3.

Puig isn't going anywhere when Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford return from hamstring injuries, so that's left Andre Ethier's future in question. Ethier, though, hasn't let that impact him, going 9 for 20 with a homer and five RBIs in the last five games.

Since the Dodgers' World Series-clinching Game 6 victory at New York on Oct. 28, 1981, these clubs have split six games. They last played June 25-27, 2010, with the Yankees taking two of three.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Dodgers at Yankees
Tue, Jun 18 - 7:05PM EDT
Recaps

GAME 2
Dodgers at Yankees
Wed, Jun 19 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rockies (37-35) at Blue Jays (34-36)
Game: 3
Venue: Rogers Centre
Date: June 19, 2013 7:07 PM EDT


Mark Buehrle's first season with the Toronto Blue Jays has mirrored that of his team. It was mostly very disappointing until recently.

The 14-year veteran could improve to .500 and help the Blue Jays get within a game of that mark if their longest winning streak in nearly five years continues Wednesday night against the Colorado Rockies.

Buehrle (3-4, 4.66 ERA), who hasn't finished under .500 since 2006, has reached at least 13 wins in five straight seasons but is on pace to fall short of double digits. That's due greatly to a 1-3 record and 6.33 ERA through his first nine starts.

The left-hander served up 11 homers in that span but has since allowed one in 33 innings, going 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA in five starts - four Toronto victories.

"It's not like he's come out of nowhere," manager John Gibbons said. "But he's got to be on as good a roll as anybody in baseball."

So are the Blue Jays (34-36), whose seven-game winning streak is their best since posting 10 consecutive victories Aug. 30-Sept. 9, 2008. This run has pushed Toronto within one win of .500 for the first time since mid-April, and the team has been below the break-even mark since July despite many big-name acquisitions - including Buehrle.

His best performance in a Blue Jays uniform came Friday, giving up four hits and striking out seven in seven innings of an 8-0 win at Texas.

That's part of an outstanding run by the Toronto staff, posting a 0.67 ERA in the last six games and holding opponents to a .192 average.

"If we could do that all year, we wouldn't lose a game, I bet," Buehrle told the team's official website. "... I wouldn't expect to keep this rate up for too much."

While Blue Jays pitchers haven't allowed a home run in 52 consecutive innings, their lineup has hit 15 in the past eight games after a three-homer effort Tuesday in an 8-3 victory over the Rockies. J.P. Arencibia homered for the third time in four games, Edwin Encarnacion hit his team-leading 19th and Maicer Izturis went deep to give him a .333 average in the last eight games.

Colorado (37-35), on the other hand, has yet to homer in this series and now looks to avoid another three-game sweep in Toronto. The Rockies have hit .176 in losing all eight games they've played there.

Juan Nicasio (4-2, 4.86) will face the Blue Jays for the first time, possibly pitching to save his spot in the rotation with newcomer Roy Oswalt to debut Thursday.

Nicasio is winless in his past five starts due largely to struggles as the game goes deeper. He's given up a combined six runs through the first five innings but has allowed 11 after that - and he's yet to pitch past the sixth this season.

"He's had some struggles after the fifth," manager Walt Weiss said. "He's been dominant at times early then run into some trouble in the sixth inning."

Buehrle has had no such trouble lately, and he's 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA in two starts versus the Rockies.

No one has faced him more than Michael Cuddyer, who has gone 34 for 107 (.318) against Buehrle and enters this matchup riding a career-high, 16-game hitting streak.

Fellow Rockies outfielder Dexter Fowler (finger) did not start for the third time in five games Tuesday and his status for this game is uncertain.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rockies at Blue Jays
Mon, Jun 17 Final 0 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rockies at Blue Jays
Tue, Jun 18 Final 3 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Rockies at Blue Jays
Wed, Jun 19 - 7:07PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Royals (34-35) at Indians (35-35)
Game: 3
Venue: Progressive Field
Date: June 19, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


After a rough start to June, the Cleveland Indians have managed to turn things around.

They'll again have a chance to surpass the .500 mark Wednesday night against the Kansas City Royals.

Cleveland (35-35) opened June with a 5-0 win over Tampa Bay, then dropped a season-high eight in a row. Since then, the Indians have won five of seven and are in position to win a third consecutive series. They're also trying to move past the break-even mark for the first time since they were 30-29 on June 5.

Michael Brantley's sacrifice fly capped a three-run eighth inning Tuesday that helped Cleveland rally for a 4-3 win over Kansas City (34-35), which lost for the third time in 14 games.

"I won't say we needed it, but we wanted it,' Cleveland center fielder Michael Bourn said. "They took second place (in the AL Central) over us (Monday) and we came back today. Not only that, we want to win those close games like that. Those close games matter.'

Cleveland's last 14 games have been decided by three or fewer runs, and four of the last five by a single run.

Scheduled Indians starter Justin Masterson (8-5, 3.52 ERA) has posted an 8.84 ERA in losing three straight to the Royals, but is 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA in eight starts at Progressive Field this year. He's yielded five runs, 17 hits and fanned 44 in 36 innings to go 4-0 in his last five home starts.

The right-hander allowed 11 runs over 13 1-3 innings in his previous two starts - both on the road - before he gave up a run, two hits and struck out 10 over seven frames while not receiving a decision in Friday's 2-1 victory over Washington.

"I just had some good movement," Masterson told the Indians' official website. "Slider, sinker, magic pitch ... It was all good."

Masterson, however, allowed seven runs, nine hits and walked four in 6 1-3 innings of a 9-0 loss at Kansas City on April 28.

Alex Gordon is batting. 400 (12 for 30) with three doubles, a triple and a home run against Masterson, but he's 0 for 7 in the series.

Kansas City's Luis Mendoza (2-3, 4.08) takes the mound Wednesday looking for another strong outing after he allowed two runs in 13 innings while going 1-0 in his last two starts. He yielded those runs and overcame seven hits in six innings during a 7-2 win at Tampa Bay on Friday.

"Mendy started out really shaky. He was all over the place and he was behind on everybody," manager Ned Yost said. "But he really settled himself in and his command got better."

After the right-hander allowed nine runs in four innings of a 13-7 loss in his first 2012 appearance against the Indians, he posted a 2.95 ERA to win his next three starts versus Cleveland last year.

Ex-Royal Mike Aviles had two of Cleveland's six hits Tuesday. He's 3 for 8 with an RBI in the set and hitting .300 with six RBIs in June.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Royals at Indians
Mon, Jun 17 Final 2 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Royals at Indians
Tue, Jun 18 Final 3 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Royals at Indians
Wed, Jun 19 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Nationals (34-36) at Phillies (35-37)
Game: 3
Venue: Citizens Bank Park
Date: June 19, 2013 7:05 PM EDT


Though he hasn't earned a win in six weeks, Gio Gonzalez has pitched well of late.

The same can't be said for Kyle Kendrick, who was especially bad the last time he took the mound.

Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals try to avoid a three-game sweep against the Philadelphia Phillies, who try to extend their season-high home winning streak to seven Wednesday night.

Gonzalez (3-3, 3.40 ERA) has a 2.12 ERA in seven starts since May 5 but has gone 0-1, mainly because he's received a measly run support average of 2.31. He's surrendered more than two earned runs in only one game during May and June while holding opposing batters to a .188 average.

The two-time All-Star turned in another impressive display Friday, allowing one run and three hits over seven innings in a 2-1 walkoff loss at Cleveland.

"Everybody talks about (his) breaking ball, but he can beat you with his fastball up, and that's what he did," Indians manager Terry Francona told MLB's official website. "We had trouble from the belt up with his fastball. He's just got so much finish on it, and you have to respect the breaking ball, but he had extra, he has that little finish on his fastball that's really tough to catch up with."

Washington has lost the last four starts made by Gonzalez, who is 3-1 with a 2.52 ERA against the Phillies - all four outings came last year. He had eight strikeouts and threw a career-high 127 pitches Friday.

"Gio pitched really well," shortstop Ian Desmond said. "He grinded, and that's what we expect from him, and he did a great job. It's unfortunate the offense couldn't come through for him."

Philadelphia's bats, in contrast, came through for Kendrick (6-4, 3.76) on Friday. The right-hander allowed a career worst-tying seven runs and 10 hits in a season-low 4 1-3 innings, but the Phillies rallied to beat Colorado 8-7.

"I was just up in the zone tonight, really up all night," said Kendrick, 2-3 with a 5.70 ERA over his last six starts. "I couldn't make a pitch, but the offense picked me up."

Kendrick also has had problems against the Nationals (34-36), going 4-6 with a 4.98 ERA in 18 starts. He was tagged for five runs in as many innings during a 5-2 loss in the nation's capital May 24.

He'll need to be careful against Desmond, who is 10 for 25 with two homers in their matchups. Ryan Zimmerman, though, is 2 for his last 17 against Kendrick and Jayson Werth is 1 for 14.

Cliff Lee had his way with Washington on Tuesday, throwing eight strong innings in a 4-2 victory. Michael Young had three doubles and scored twice for the Phillies (35-37), who have outscored opponents 36-17 during their six-game win streak at Citizens Bank Park.

"If we play fundamental baseball and everyone plays up to their capabilities, we can beat anybody," Lee said.

Ben Revere is hitting .415 with eight runs and three stolen bases during a nine-game hitting streak, and Young is batting .408 over his last 12.

"Looks like his bat is a little quicker," manager Charlie Manuel said of Young. "He expects a lot out of himself and he wants to do more. He's starting to relax."

Losers in 13 of 18 on the road, the Nationals have managed just six runs during a three-game skid. They lost a season-worst four straight April 21-24 and May 18-21.

Washington has dropped seven of nine in Philadelphia.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Nationals at Phillies
Mon, Jun 17 Final 4 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Nationals at Phillies
Tue, Jun 18 Final 2 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Nationals at Phillies
Wed, Jun 19 - 7:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Rays (36-35) at Red Sox (44-29)
Game: 2
Venue: Fenway Park
Date: June 19, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Tampa Bay Rays have struggled to score lately and as a result, are in danger of dropping to .500 for the first time in almost a month.

The Boston Red Sox will look to take advantage once again Wednesday night.

On Tuesday, the Red Sox (44-29) held the Rays (36-35) to two runs and 10 hits while sweeping a doubleheader. Tampa Bay has scored just 14 runs while losing six of seven and is hitting .200 during that span. Evan Longoria is 0 for his last 10, James Loney is 1 for his last 25 and Desmond Jennings is batting .192 during that seven-game span.

The Red Sox have won nine of 11 this season against the Rays, including all five games at Fenway Park. Tampa Bay has totaled five runs and batted .148 in those contests.

Boston's Ryan Dempster (4-7, 4.21 ERA) will look to keep those bats in check. He's posted a 3.25 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .216 average in his last four starts. The right-hander threw a season-high 122 pitches in a 2-0 loss at Baltimore on Friday, yielding two runs and five hits over 7 2-3 innings.

"Ryan did a great job, threw a great game," catcher David Ross said. "That was a huge, huge performance. Those last innings, I think, were his best innings. The slider was really sharp, fastball was sinking.'

Dempster did walk five in that outing, however, in a continuation of his season-long control issues. He is fourth in the majors with 40 walks, including 21 over his last six starts.

Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson (4-3, 5.67) aims to overcome a discouraging start his last time out. Coming off of six shutout innings against Baltimore, Hellickson had his worst game of the season Thursday, allowing eight runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings of a 10-1 loss to Kansas City. It marked the sixth time this season that the right-hander allowed five-plus runs.

Hellickson has been victimized by big innings, surrendering multi-run frames in 10 of his 14 starts this season.

"I'm pretty frustrated,' Hellickson said. "It wasn't a fun game. Eight runs, it's unacceptable. It's definitely not pitch selection. I've just got to execute whatever I throw. I wish I could maybe spread around the hits. One here, one there, instead of five, six in a row.'

Hellickson has struggled in night games this season. He has a 2.42 ERA during the day, holding the opposition to a .211 batting average. At night, however, Hellickson has a 7.09 ERA with hitters batting .291 against him.

A loss in the finale of this three-game set would be the Rays' season high-tying fourth straight, and would leave them at .500 for the first time since they were 24-24 on May 25.

Dempster and Hellickson have already faced off once this season, with both going seven innings in a 3-2 Boston win on April 15. Dempster set a season high with 10 strikeouts and held Tampa Bay to one run and two hits, while Hellickson also impressed with a season-high nine strikeouts. He limited Boston to two runs and three hits.

Hellickson will want to be careful with David Ortiz, who is 7 for 19 against him with two home runs and six walks. The Red Sox designated hitter went 4 for 8 in Tuesday's doubleheader and is among the league leaders with five home runs this month.

Boston's Jose Iglesias is batting .422 during an 18-game hitting streak.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Rays at Red Sox
Tue, Jun 18 Final 1 to 3
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Rays at Red Sox
Wed, Jun 19 - 7:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mets (27-40) at Braves (42-30)
Game: 3
Venue: Turner Field
Date: June 19, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Atlanta Braves continue to strike out at an alarming rate.

Shawn Marcum isn't known as a strikeout pitcher, but even he had a career day in that category against the Braves a few weeks ago.

A day after struggling to put the ball in play against the New York Mets' pitching phenoms, Atlanta takes on the winless Marcum and looks to avoid losing a series at home for the first time all season Wednesday night.

The Braves (42-30) have struck out 645 times, leading the NL by a wide margin. They had 24 on Tuesday, with 20 coming from young starters Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler as the Mets swept a doubleheader. Freddie Freeman and Chris Johnson each struck out three times on the day, Dan Uggla had two to run his league-high total to 89 and Justin Upton added his 82nd - third-most in the NL.

"It's just been a rough last 24 hours," said B.J. Upton, who has 75 strikeouts.

It will be a bad 48 hours if Atlanta loses this one, especially considering it would mark the team's first series loss at Turner Field since dropping two of three to Philadelphia from Aug. 31-Sept. 2. Monday's 2-1 win in the opener of this four-game set was the 16th victory in 19 home games for the Braves, who are a major-league best 24-10 at home.

Marcum (0-8, 5.43 ERA), meanwhile, has fanned just 47 batters in 54 2-3 innings this year. However, the seven-year veteran posted his career high of 12 on May 26 against Atlanta, including three of Freeman. Marcum allowed a two-run homer to Uggla but only three other hits in seven innings of New York's 4-2 victory.

Of the right-hander's 10 appearances - eight starts - this season, the only two times New York won came versus the Braves. He's 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA in five career games against them. Johnson and Jason Heyward are each 1 for 12 against him with a combined 12 strikeouts.

Marcum pitched eight innings of one-run ball in relief in a 2-1, 20-inning loss to Miami on June 8, but followed that with a poor start Friday against the Cubs as he was tagged for six runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-3 loss.

"Shaun is a professional. He knows you've got to go out and get the job done," manager Terry Collins said. "He just got off to a bad start. I'm sure he wishes he could take a couple pitches back."

Marcum, who has received just 12 runs of support in eight starts this season, is hoping New York's late offensive outburst Tuesday carries into Wednesday. The Mets (27-40) tacked on four runs in the eighth inning to help secure a 6-1 victory in the nightcap, their highest-scoring game since June 5. The Mets finished with 14 hits, ending a streak of nine straight games with nine or fewer.

David Wright had two hits in that game and is batting .452 in his last eight. Marlon Byrd went 5 for 8 in the doubleheader.

The Mets will be hard-pressed to repeat their success against Kris Medlen (3-7, 3.09), who has been dominant against New York. He's never lost in 16 games versus the Mets, posting a 1.92 ERA, and is 3-0 in six starts against them. He struck out a season-high nine in six innings against the Mets on May 24, allowing three runs in a 7-5, 10-inning victory.

After recording one win in 11 starts through May, Medlen won his first two this month before losing Friday. The right-hander yielded four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 6-0 defeat to San Francisco, receiving no runs of support for the fourth time in seven starts.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mets at Braves
Mon, Jun 17 Final 1 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mets at Braves
Tue, Jun 18 Final 6 to 1
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mets at Braves
Wed, Jun 19 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Mets at Braves
Thu, Jun 20 - 7:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Pirates (42-29) at Reds (43-29)
Game: 3
Venue: Great American Ball Park
Date: June 19, 2013 7:10 PM EDT


The Cincinnati Reds have had a hard time coming up with big hits in clutch situations lately.

Pittsburgh's Jeff Locke, who continues to surprise, will try to extend Cincinnati's woes Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.

The Pirates (42-29) ended Mat Latos' streak of 21 straight regular-season starts without a loss - despite his nine strikeouts in five innings - with a 4-0 victory on Tuesday. Cincinnati equaled Pittsburgh's four hits, but was hitless in five at_bats with men in scoring position while the Pirates were 3 for 9.

Pittsburgh's 12th shutout, which leads baseball, also was the second for the Reds (43-29) in their last four games. They've managed 20 runs over their last seven games while batting .219, including .125 with runners in scoring position. They're 1 for 25 in such situations in their last four contests.

Cleanup hitter Brandon Phillips is 1 for 16 in the last four games, leaving seven runners on base.

Tensions also flared up Tuesday as Pirates starter Charlie Morton hit Shin-Soo Choo with his first pitch. He also later hit Xavier Paul and buzzed Joey Votto with a pitch inside.

Choo being hit didn't sit well with Latos. The Pirates have hit 39 batters, more than any other team. Choo, though, has also been hit 19 times - the most in baseball.

"It's time that somebody stepped up and did something about the team that's hit more guys in the league than anybody," Latos said.

A win for the Pirates would move them past the Reds for second place in the NL Central.

Locke (6-1, 2.19 ERA) is 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA over his last six starts and allowed two hits over seven innings in Friday's 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Barely earning the job as the team's fifth starter out of spring training, Locke seems to have settled in.

"I wouldn't say (my) comfort level has changed at all," said the left-hander, who earned his first win of the season on April 13 against Cincinnati, giving up one run and four hits over five innings in a 3-1 final. "It's still uncomfortable. The confidence is definitely there. That's something I've gained into spring training and I've been able to carry it through the first half of the season so far."

The Reds counter with Bronson Arroyo (6-5, 3.27), who has an 8.40 ERA in losing each of his last three starts versus Pittsburgh, failing twice to last more than four innings.

Cincinnati will hope his recent success - he owns a 1.66 ERA over his last three outings overall - can translate to Wednesday. The right-hander gave up a season-high 12 hits in Friday's 4-3 victory over Milwaukee, but his ability to go 7 2-3 innings was crucial after the Reds used seven pitchers in a 14-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs a day earlier.

"I knew the bullpen was tired and I needed to go deep into the game," Arroyo said. "Luckily, they swung at a lot of first pitches. I think I only had like 30 pitches after four innings."

Neil Walker is 5 for 11 against Arroyo while Pedro Alvarez is 4 for 8 with a homer and three doubles. Andrew McCutchen is only 1 for 19, the lone hit a home run.

Walker is hitless in six at_bats in this series, and 1 for 17 in his last five games versus the Reds.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Pirates at Reds
Mon, Jun 17 Final 1 to 4
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Pirates at Reds
Tue, Jun 18 Final 4 to 0
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Pirates at Reds
Wed, Jun 19 - 7:10PM EDT

GAME 4
Pirates at Reds
Thu, Jun 20 - 12:35PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Athletics (43-30) at Rangers (39-32)
Game: 3
Venue: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Date: June 19, 2013 8:05 PM EDT


The Oakland Athletics can take comfort in knowing they'll leave Texas still leading the AL West.

They can pad their lead by extending the struggles of the second-place Rangers on Wednesday night.

Brandon Moss hit his 13th homer while Jarrod Parker and two relievers held Texas (39-32) to three hits to help Oakland even the four-game set with a 6-2 win Tuesday. The A's (43-30) have dropped three of five since winning 21 of 26, but own a three-game lead over a Rangers club that has lost seven of eight and is 5-12 this month.

Oakland scored five runs in six innings of Yu Darvish, who is winless in six straight starts and 1-4 with a 4.22 ERA in five against the A's.

"We may do better against him than other teams, maybe, because we see him more often being in our division and we always seem to get him,' Moss said.

Aside from Monday's 8-7 win over Oakland, Texas has totaled 10 runs in its seven losses over the last eight. Its starting pitchers have gone without a win this month, breaking the team record of 16 straight set in 1975.

"We just went through this spell not scoring runs," manager Ron Washington said. "It's tough for starters to hang out there.'

Texas second basemen Ian Kinsler had a hit Tuesday, but also needed stitches near his jaw after a collision at home plate in third inning. Four games back from missing almost a month with an oblique strain, Kinsler was screened for a concussion and remained in the game.

He is 3 for 7 in the series, and 2 for 6 against scheduled Oakland starter Tommy Milone (6-6, 3.61 ERA).

Milone is 1-1 with a 2.18 ERA in his last three starts. He gave up two runs in 6 2-3 innings of a 3-2 loss to Seattle on Friday.

The left-hander, who has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 14 starts, posted a 2.50 ERA despite going 0-2 in three road starts against the Rangers last season.

Tied for the team lead with 13 homers, Moss is batting .357 (10 for 28) with four homers and seven RBIs in his last six games. He recorded three home runs for his only hits in his previous 36 at bats.

Moss is 2 for 3 with a double and homer against scheduled Texas starter Justin Grimm (5-5, 5.59), who is 0-2 with an 11.40 ERA in his last three starts. The right-hander allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 7 2-3 innings of an 8-0 loss to Toronto on Friday.

In those three starts, Grimm has endured a six-run inning and two four-run frames.

"I got to learn a little damage control," he told the Rangers' official website. "It seems to be the difference in my last couple outings. It hasn't been terrible; it's just seen one big inning that gets to me."

Grimm allowed five runs and homers to Moss and Yoenis Cespedes in five innings of a 5-1 loss at Oakland on May 13.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Athletics at Rangers
Mon, Jun 17 Final 7 to 8
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Athletics at Rangers
Tue, Jun 18 Final 6 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Athletics at Rangers
Wed, Jun 19 - 8:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Athletics at Rangers
Thu, Jun 20 - 2:05PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: White Sox (29-39) at Twins (31-36)
Game: 2
Venue: Target Field
Date: June 19, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The Chicago White Sox's Chris Sale took another hard-luck loss last week despite delivering one of his most dominant performances.

He hasn't needed much run support against the Minnesota Twins.

Looking to snap a career-worst three-start losing streak, Sale tries to win a fourth consecutive outing versus Minnesota on Wednesday night.

While Sale (5-5, 2.43 ERA) ranks among the AL leaders in ERA and opponent batting average (.189), his run-support average of 2.74 is the lowest in the league. He's been backed by a combined four runs in three starts this month, losing each despite a 2.11 ERA.

Sale had everything working Friday but saw his poor luck continue in a 2-1 defeat at Houston. The left-hander struck out a season-high 14 in a complete game, allowing two unearned runs and five hits.

"You don't want to hang your head," he said. "Obviously, it's disappointing, but at the end of the day, these guys are grinding it out and not giving anybody anything. I know everyone in here is fighting and grinding, and that's the main goal."

Sale walked one and threw 85 of his career-high 124 pitches for strikes.

"He's absolutely one of the best pitchers we've faced this year, and if we face him again, he'll be one of the best then, too," Astros second baseman Jose Altuve told MLB's official website.

The Twins (31-36) surely felt the same way after Sale baffled them last year. He won all three of his starts in the series while allowing a combined two runs and 11 hits over 20 innings.

"He's pretty doggone good," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said after Sale threw six innings of three-hit ball in Chicago's 6-0 road win Sept. 14.

Sale has handled several Minnesota hitters very well, including Josh Willingham (1 for 12 with seven strikeouts), Justin Morneau (2 for 9) and Ryan Doumit (1 for 6).

Doumit entered Tuesday mired in a 3-for-27 slump before going 3 for 4 with a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning of a 7-5 series-opening victory.

"It's nice to be the guy who came up with the big hit," he said. "Hopefully I can keep it going."

Joe Mauer also had three hits, including a two-run homer. He's batting .390 with two homers, six RBIs and eight runs in his last 11 home games versus Chicago.

Sitting in last place in the AL Central, the White Sox (29-39) have dropped five of six and 15 of 20. They're on the verge of falling a season-high 11 games under .500.

"I still think there's some good to come out of this at some point," Paul Konerko said after going 4 for 4 with an RBI. "It hasn't been right now, it hasn't been before now, but we still have good baseball in us. We just haven't shown it."

The White Sox will try to turn things around against Kevin Correia (5-4, 3.97), who's 2-3 with a 5.36 ERA in his last eight starts. The right-hander allowed one run and eight hits in five innings but didn't factor in the decision of Thursday's 3-2 loss to Philadelphia.

In his only appearance versus Chicago, Correia gave up four runs and nine hits over seven innings May 14 in a 4-2 defeat. He'll need to be careful against Adam Dunn and Dayan Viciedo, who both took him deep that night. Dunn is 4 for 12 with two homers lifetime against him.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
White Sox at Twins
Tue, Jun 18 Final 5 to 7
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
White Sox at Twins
Wed, Jun 19 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
White Sox at Twins
Thu, Jun 20 - 1:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Brewers (28-41) at Astros (27-45)
Game: 2
Venue: Minute Maid Park
Date: June 19, 2013 8:10 PM EDT


The Houston Astros put together one of their best offensive showings in the series opener with the Milwaukee Brewers.

A repeat performance could be much more difficult to come by against scheduled starter Kyle Lohse, who regularly frustrates the Astros.

Houston aims for a sixth win in seven games Wednesday night as it hosts the Brewers.

Matt Dominguez's grand slam and career-high five RBIs led the Astros (27-45) to a 10-1 victory Tuesday. Carlos Pena also chipped in with a three-run homer.

All 10 of Dominguez's home runs this year have come in his past 35 games, as well as 28 of his team-best 40 RBIs.

"You look at the batting average and many people talk about average but this guy has been productive,' manager Bo Porter said of Dominguez, who is hitting .236. "It's somewhere close to 40 RBIs, 10 home runs and Gold Glove (caliber) third base. That's a pretty good baseball player."

Lohse (2-6, 3.84 ERA) is 10-7 with a 2.60 ERA in 18 career starts against the Astros, and 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA in his last five against them.

After suffering five losses in a span of seven starts, he's allowed two earned runs over 14 innings in his last two outings. The Brewers (28-41) haven't done a great job of backing him, as his 3.16 run-support average is one of the lowest in the NL.

Still, the right-hander would like to toughen up in first innings, as eight of the 16 hits he's given up in his last three starts have come in the first frame. Opponents are hitting .333 against him in the first inning on the season.

"I've got to figure something out," Lohse said. "It seems like I keep giving up hits in the first inning. Usually I'm pretty good there."

Conversely, Houston starter Erik Bedard (2-3, 4.82) struggled both times he faced Milwaukee last season, going 0-2 with an 11.88 ERA.

He is coming off a strong outing, allowing an unearned run and three hits over six innings in a 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The left-hander threw a season-high 104 pitches.

"I had a couple innings with a lot of pitches early, but I got stronger and was throwing a lot more strikes later to get the quick outs," he said.

Bedard will try to take advantage of a Milwaukee offense that is scuffling a bit, totaling five runs in the team's three losses over the last four contests. Leadoff hitter Norichika Aoki is 2 for 16 with a walk in the last four.

"We have chances and we don't get people in," manager Ron Roenicke said, not pleased with his team's 3-for-8 performance with runners in scoring position Tuesday. "And that ball game is a lot different if we drive in the people when we have the opportunities to do it."

Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez are a combined 7 for 15 against Bedard, each with a home run.

Houston's Justin Maxwell was 0 for 2 with two walks Tuesday as he started in right field after missing nearly two months with a fractured left hand.

Lohse has recorded 16 strikeouts versus Carlos Pena, who is 9 for 38 off him.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Brewers at Astros
Tue, Jun 18 Final 1 to 10

Boxscores • Recaps
GAME 2
Brewers at Astros
Wed, Jun 19 - 8:10PM EDT

GAME 3
Brewers at Astros
Thu, Jun 20 - 2:10PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Cubs (29-40) at Cardinals (45-26)
Game: 3
Venue: Busch Stadium
Date: June 19, 2013 8:15 PM EDT


After a rough start to the month, the Chicago Cubs are starting to turn things around.

So is scheduled starter Edwin Jackson, who goes for his third straight victory Wednesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cubs (29-40) opened June with eight losses in 10 games, but have since won four of six behind a starting rotation that has posted a 2.61 ERA. The starters have recorded quality starts in each of the last five.

Jackson (3-8, 5.40 ERA) has also emerged from an early season slump. Through his first 11 starts, Jackson was 1-8 with a 6.29 ERA - the worst in the majors on June 2. The right-hander, however, is finally starting to live up to the big contract Chicago gave him in the offseason, yielding two runs while striking out 15 over 13 innings in winning each of his last two starts. He allowed a run and five hits in six innings in Friday's 6-3 victory over the New York Mets.

"Just trying to get in a rhythm,' Jackson said.

The Cubs, who pounced on Adam Wainwright for four runs in the top of the first in a 4-2 victory Tuesday, will hope to do the same for Jackson. The last time Jackson pitched, they gave him a 5-0 cushion heading into the bottom of the second.

"You get those early runs, it's definitely a luxury,' Jackson said. "More times than not it's going to be a close game. You've got to pitch mistake-free, or pretty close to it. But when you come out and get an offensive explosion, it's definitely great.'

Jackson has been at his best away from Wrigley Field this season, recording a 3.73 ERA in six road starts. His 6.69 home ERA is second-worst in the majors.

He was hit hard in his last outing at Busch Stadium, however, getting tagged for nine runs in 1 1-3 innings last September.

Jackson has also been at a loss when it comes to the red-hot Yadier Molina. The Cardinals catcher is 8 for 12 with two home runs in their matchups. Then again, Molina has had success against pretty much everyone this season, batting .449 with 12 doubles and 17 RBIs in his last 21 games to raise his average 38 points to .367. He has always done particularly well against the Cubs, going 9 for 15 in the season series and is hitting .366 against them since 2011.

His batterymate, Jake Westbrook (2-2, 2.05), got off to a sensational start, posting a 1.62 ERA in his first six outings, but struggled in his return from the disabled list Friday. In his first outing since May 8 because of right elbow inflammation, Westbrook surrendered five runs and eight hits in five innings of a 5-4 loss to Miami.

The veteran right-hander failed to strike out a single hitter, and averages 3.89 strikeouts per nine innings, which would be one of the lowest rates in the majors if he had enough innings to qualify.

Westbrook has made up for such strikeout woes by avoiding the long ball. He has yet to surrender a home run in 44 innings - the only pitcher without serving up a homer with at least that many innings pitched.

David DeJesus is the only player on the Cubs roster with a homer against Westbrook. He's got one in 35 at_bats.

Alfonso Soriano is 3 for 30 against Westbrook without a single extra-base hit. It marks the most at_bats Soriano has ever had against a pitcher without recording an extra-base hit.

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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Cubs at Cardinals
Mon, Jun 17 Final 2 to 5
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Cubs at Cardinals
Tue, Jun 18 Final 4 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Cubs at Cardinals
Wed, Jun 19 - 8:15PM EDT

GAME 4
Cubs at Cardinals
Thu, Jun 20 - 8:15PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Mariners (32-40) at Angels (31-40)
Game: 3
Venue: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Date: June 19, 2013 10:05 PM EDT


The Los Angeles Angels' C.J. Wilson has had mixed results this season, but he's been plenty consistent against the Seattle Mariners.

Seeking a fifth consecutive win over Seattle, Wilson takes the mound opposite fellow lefty Joe Saunders as the Angels continue a four-game set with the visiting Mariners on Wednesday night.

After going 1-5 over his previous seven outings, Wilson (5-5, 3.90 ERA) got back on track with an impressive display in Friday's 5-2 win over the New York Yankees. The two-time All-Star allowed two runs and five hits over seven innings, improving to 3-2 with a 2.61 ERA over his last six home starts.

"A win's a win. I'll take a pretty win or an ugly win, or whatever," said Wilson, who at 87 2-3 innings is nearly halfway to his fourth consecutive 200-inning campaign. "I'm very motivated to pitch deep into the game, and pitching a lot of innings is really what separates the good pitchers from the really good pitchers. I'm just trying to get back up to that level where I feel like I deserve to be."

Wilson has proven nearly unbeatable against the Mariners (32-40) since the start of 2011, going 7-1 with a 2.24 ERA and 65 strikeouts in nine starts spanning 60 1-3 innings. He yielded one run, six hits and struck out 10 in a season-high eight innings May 22 in a 7-1 victory, winning his third consecutive start in the series.

Wilson has fared especially well against several Seattle hitters, including Raul Ibanez (3 for 21), Michael Saunders (3 for 19) and Kyle Seager (2 for 16).

The Mariners give the ball to Saunders (5-6, 4.80), who's 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA over his last four starts. He gave up five hits over seven innings of one-run ball in Friday's 3-2 victory at Oakland, improving to 1-4 on the road with a 7.58 ERA - nearly three times higher than his home mark of 2.53.

"It's just a matter of being consistent and staying confident in what you can do," he told MLB's official website. "You know you can do this. It's just a matter of now doing it."

Saunders, who spent the first five-plus years of his career with the Angels (31-40), is set to face his former team for just the second time. He surrendered a two-run homer to Mark Trumbo in a 2-0 loss in Los Angeles last June 16 while with Arizona.

Seattle's Kendrys Morales, meanwhile, delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the 10th inning against his former club in Tuesday's 3-2 win. Acquired from the Angels in exchange for Jason Vargas this offseason, Morales entered the game mired in a 2-for-32 slump.

Ibanez and Justin Smoak also came up big with back-to-back homers in the second inning. Ibanez has hit safely in 13 straight and 27 of 28 games at Angel Stadium, going 41 for 110 (.373) with three homers, 22 runs and 12 RBIs. Smoak was playing in his first game back since missing 18 with a strained oblique.

Los Angeles' Josh Hamilton grounded into a double play in each of his first three at_bats before striking out in his next two. The former AL MVP is hitting .163 with one homer in his last 12 home games.

"It's hard for me to tell why he's struggling because I've only faced him a handful of times," Mariners reliever Charlie Furbush said. "He just working through whatever he's working through to try to get back to the big power numbers that he's had in the past."

Hamilton is 4 for 10 with a homer and a triple against Saunders.


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SERIES AT A GLANCE

GAME 1
Mariners at Angels
Mon, Jun 17 Final 3 to 11
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 2
Mariners at Angels
Tue, Jun 18 Final 3 to 2
Boxscores • Recaps

GAME 3
Mariners at Angels
Wed, Jun 19 - 10:05PM EDT

GAME 4
Mariners at Angels
Thu, Jun 20 - 10:05PM EDT