Mariners 5 - 2 Phillies
Final
  for this game

Phils take their swings against red-hot Iwakuma

Aug 19, 2014 - 3:09 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Hisashi Iwakuma aims to win his third straight start on Tuesday evening as the Seattle Mariners attempt to even their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Iwakuma is 3-1 over his last four starts, giving up only four runs over that span. He is coming off a 2-0 decision over Toronto on Wednesday, hurling 6 2/3 scoreless innings while working around five hits and a walk.

The 33-year-old righty moved to 11-6 with a 2.72 earned run average on the year.

"I thought he had an exceptional split tonight," M's manager Lloyd McClendon said of Iwakuma. "His command was pretty good, I was incredibly pleased with his outing."

Iwakuma has never before faced the Phillies, who counter with struggling right-hander A.J. Burnett.

Burnett's recent issues continued with a fourth straight losing start on Wednesday at the Los Angeles Angels. He gave up four runs on five hits and four walks in six innings.

It marked Burnett's fifth straight losing decision and he has not picked up a victory since July 11. The 37-year-old veteran now sits at 6-13 on the year with a 4.35 ERA.

Burnett is 3-3 with a 3.57 ERA in nine previous encounters with the Mariners.

The Phillies won Monday's opener, 4-1, as Andres Blanco hit a three-run homer and Jerome Williams tossed seven-plus solid innings.

Williams picked up his first win in a Phillies uniform after giving up one run on three hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked three in his second start for Philadelphia since being claimed off waivers.

"My game plan really wasn't working earlier in the year, that's why I'm on my third team," Williams said. "We're just using the same weapons I have, but we're just moving the ball everywhere and anywhere. I've had success with that."

Blanco's homer was his first since 2011. Marlon Byrd added an RBI for the Phillies, who had lost seven of nine coming in.

Seattle starter Roenis Elias allowed one run on three hits with six walks over four innings. He was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma prior to Monday's game.

Dustin Ackley drove in the lone run for the Mariners, who are playing at Citizens Bank Park for the first time.

The Mariners have won seven of 10 versus the Phillies dating back to 2003, when they swept the club in three games in their only previous trip to Philadelphia.






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