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Diamondbacks-Mariners Preview

Jun 20, 2009 - 6:38 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Arizona (29-39) at Seattle (33-34), 10:10 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Mariners may still be below .500, but their pitching over the last month has simply been outstanding.

The Mariners will look to capture a fourth straight home series Saturday night behind Jason Vargas when they continue their three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Seattle (33-34) has posted a major league-best 2.64 ERA since May 20, holding opponents to a .225 average in that span. The Mariners have been even better in their 12 games at home in that period with a 1.69 ERA - more than a run lower than any other team.

Vargas (2-2, 3.56 ERA) is one of the pitchers who has excelled at home. He is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four appearances - three starts - at Safeco Field.

A return home will be welcome for Vargas after he gave up season highs of seven runs and 12 hits over 4 2-3 innings Sunday in a 7-1 loss at Colorado.

"I just got off track in the fifth and they really opened up the game," Vargas said.

Outside of that start in the thin air of Coors Field, the left-hander hasn't allowed more than three runs in his other six. Vargas is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two career outings against Arizona (29-39).

The Mariners may need a big effort from Vargas since they will likely be without two key starters.

Second baseman Jose Lopez, who has a team-high 42 RBIs, is in Venezuela indefinitely to be with his seriously ill sister. Left fielder Endy Chavez, meanwhile, was carted off the field in the fifth inning of Friday's 4-3 win with an apparently serious right knee injury after he flipped hard to the turf in a collision with shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt on a pop fly.

"All indications are not good," Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said.

The Mariners scored four runs in the eighth inning Friday to rally from a 3-0 deficit. Ken Griffey Jr. hit a tying pinch-hit, two-run homer and Rob Johnson added a go-ahead RBI triple.

"He's done it to so many pitchers - not so much off the bench all the time," said Arizona manager A.J. Hinch about Griffey's homer. "That is why he is a future Hall of Famer."

Griffey had started the last five games in left field since Seattle was playing in NL parks. The 39-year-old Griffey has yet to start in the outfield in a home game this year but could be pressed into such action Saturday due to Chavez's injury.

The Diamondbacks entered this series with back-to-back 12-run performances in wins at Kansas City but managed five hits Friday. They are 5-11 all-time versus Seattle.

Billy Buckner (2-3, 7.36) will make his sixth start of the year for Arizona after losing his last two by posting an 11.81 ERA in that span. He gave up six runs over five-plus innings Sunday in an 8-3 loss to Houston.

The right-hander, who has never faced the Mariners, has posted a 0.68 ERA in winning both of his road starts this year.