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Mariners-Padres Preview

Jun 15, 2009 - 8:40 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Seattle (30-33) at San Diego (28-34), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Given their struggles in interleague play, it could be a very long two weeks for the San Diego Padres.

The Padres look to avoid a record 12th straight interleague loss Tuesday, when they open a three-game home series against the Seattle Mariners.

San Diego (28-34) suffered a three-game sweep swept to the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim over the weekend, after losing eight consecutive games against the AL in 2008. The Padres have been outscored 72-28 in the 11 straight interleague defeats, in which their starters are 0-10 with a 7.90 ERA.

The losing streak matches the longest in the 13-year history of interleague play. The New York Mets also lost 11 in a row June 20, 2003-June 12, 2004.

"I don't see any one thing (to explain the struggles)," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official Web site after a 6-0 loss to the Angels on Sunday.

If those struggles don't end, San Diego's upcoming schedule will be rough. The Padres remain at home to face Oakland this weekend, then visit Seattle and Texas to close out interleague play. They don't face another NL opponent until June 29.

The Mariners have won eight in a row in San Diego.

The Padres, who have dropped 11 of 15 overall, had five hits Sunday after managing seven in a 9-1 loss Saturday. Adrian Gonzalez had three of the five hits in the finale, including a double to lead off the second inning. Since homering in four consecutive games May 30-June 2, Gonzalez has gone 10 games without one - matching his longest drought of the season. His 22 homers are now tied with Philadelphia's Raul Ibanez and St. Louis' Albert Pujols for the major-league lead.

Gonzalez and the Padres may not have much better luck against Seattle's Felix Hernandez (6-3, 3.06 ERA), who is 2-0 with a 0.94 ERA in his last four starts. Hernandez gave up one run in seven innings of a 4-1 win over Baltimore last Wednesday.

"Felix was outstanding," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "He's been that way for a couple of weeks now. He came out and competed."

The right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his last five interleague starts. He is only 1-1 with a 5.38 ERA in four starts against the Padres, but Seattle (30-33) has won three of those games.

The Mariners hope Hernandez can help them bounce back from a weekend sweep at Colorado, including a 7-1 loss in Sunday's finale. Jason Vargas gave up seven runs and 12 hits in 4 2-3 innings, and the Mariners scored their lone run on a Jose Lopez sacrifice fly in the first.

Seattle starters went 0-2 over the weekend, allowing 13 runs over 13 2-3 innings.

It's always frustrating to lose," Ken Griffey Jr. told the Mariners' official Web site. "Losing three times is bad, but the good thing is we come back Tuesday and start a new (series)."

Kevin Correia (3-4, 4.80) looks to win his third straight start Tuesday when he takes the mound for San Diego. He gave up one run and four hits over six innings of a 3-1 victory over the Dodgers last Wednesday. Despite pitching on three days' rest, Correia retired the final 15 batters he faced.

The right-hander made a relief appearance against the Mariners in 2006, giving up two runs and two hits in two-thirds of an inning.