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Angels-Mariners Preview

May 15, 2016 - 6:23 AM Felix Hernandez is the winningest pitcher in Seattle Mariners history, but he hasn't had much luck beating the Los Angeles Angels of late.

Coming off that milestone victory, the right-hander tries to avoid a third consecutive losing decision against the Angels and help keep the Mariners from being swept in this three-game home series Sunday.

Hernandez (3-2, 2.27 ERA) allowed two homers in seven innings of a 5-2 victory over Tampa Bay on Monday for his club-record 146th win.

''It means a lot,'' said Hernandez, who passed good friend Jamie Moyer for the No. 1 position. ''It's an honor to be on top of that list. I'm happy for that."

First-year Mariners manager Scott Servais continues to be in awe of the man known at "King Felix."

"Unbelievable, 146 career wins here kind of says it all," Servais told MLB's official website. "He's gone through a lot here over the course of his career and it's great to see him achieve that."

Hernandez is 2-0 in three starts since allowing a two-run homer to Mike Trout, a solo shot to Cliff Pennington and three other hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss at Anaheim on April 23. He's surrendered five home runs while going 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA in his last three starts against the Angels (15-21).

The Mariners ace went 5-0 with an 0.49 ERA in his previous eight starts against Los Angeles.

Despite striking out 21 times, Trout is batting .368 with five home runs in 68 at-bats against Hernandez. He's hit .396 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in his last 14 games against the Mariners.

Albert Pujols, 11 for 55 with one homer against Hernandez, hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth Saturday that led to Los Angeles' wild 9-7 victory. Trout also homered as the Angels went deep four times to win their second in a row after losing six straight.

"All year long we can't catch many breaks," Pujols said. "Sooner or later it will come around."

The Angels last swept a series at Seattle (21-15) in 2013.

Pujols is 6 for 18 with two home runs and five RBIs in four games after he went 1 for 17 in his previous five.

Hector Santiago (2-2, 4.07) went 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his first four starts, a stretch that concluded against Hernandez on April 23. He gave up a homer to Nelson Cruz, one other run and struck out seven in six innings.

Since then, the left-hander has posted a 6.46 ERA in three outings. He gave up four runs in a season-low 4 1/3 innings of Tuesday's 8-1 loss to St. Louis.

"There's nothing physically wrong with me," Santiago said. "I feel fine. It's just a matter of just trying to get ahead. Right now I'm falling behind in counts, so I'm put in situations where I've got to make pitches."

Cruz and Franklin Gutierrez are a combined 7 for 18 against Santiago since the start of last season.

Seattle relievers have allowed nine runs in 5 1/3 innings of this series. Steve Cishek has blown saves on back-to-back nights and three times in five games after converting his first nine chances.