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Mariners-Padres Preview

Jun 18, 2009 - 6:44 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Seattle (32-33) at San Diego (28-36), 3:35 p.m. EDT

At least the San Diego Padres weren't shut out in three consecutive games for the first time in 33 seasons.

Now, the slumping Padres look to snap their major league-record 13-game losing streak in interleague play and end a 10-game slide to the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park as they close out a three-game set Thursday afternoon.

With a 4-3 defeat Wednesday, San Diego (28-36) avoided getting blanked in three straight contests for the first time since July 5-7, 1976, but lost its fifth in a row overall. The Padres have dropped 24 of their last 28 games against AL opponents.

"We just couldn't muster anything against their pitching," manager Bud Black said. "We have to get more guys on base to put stress on their pitcher."

Kevin Kouzmanoff's homer in the second was San Diego's first run in 23 innings. Chase Headley added a game-tying two-run shot in the fourth, but the Padres totaled just four hits and are batting just .189 during their five-game slide.

Adrian Gonzalez, tied for second in the NL with 22 homers, went 0 for 2 with two walks. After hitting 13 homers and driving in 23 runs during a 21-game stretch from May 10-June 2, Gonzalez is batting .158 (6 for 38) with no home runs or RBIs in his last 12 contests.

Josh Geer (1-2, 6.14 ERA) takes the mound for the Padres, losers of seven in a row overall to the Mariners since May 16, 2008.

Geer, who's taking over in the rotation for injured ace Jake Peavy (strained tendon behind right ankle), allowed a career-worst seven runs and nine hits over 5 2-3 innings in a 9-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.

The right-hander also yielded a career-high four homers.

"I hung a couple of pitches here and there. I worked on staying tall, staying on top of it ... it's one hanger here and there that led to runs," he told the Padres' official Web site.

Geer is among the NL leaders with 14 homers allowed, and San Diego has lost his last four appearances - three starts.

Seattle (32-33) closes out its nine-game road trip with former closer Brandon Morrow (0-3, 5.91) making his second start of 2009.

Morrow takes over for Erik Bedard, who was placed on the disabled list Wednesday with left shoulder inflammation. On Saturday, Morrow went just three innings, allowing one run and three hits in a 5-3 loss to Colorado.

Morrow struck out four during his 64-pitch outing, but also walked four, including one to Rockies pitcher Jason Marquis.

"Throwing with a pitch count is tough," Morrow said. "You start thinking about it and you start to guide the ball a little bit."

Morrow has two saves and a 0.00 ERA in six career relief appearances versus San Diego.

Seattle second baseman Jose Lopez hit a two-run homer Wednesday, and is batting .333 with seven homers and 21 RBIs in his last 17 games.

San Diego's last interleague win was 6-2 over Detroit on June 20.