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Orioles-Mariners Preview

Jul 6, 2009 - 1:51 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Baltimore (36-45) at Seattle (42-38), 10:10 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Mariners return to Safeco Field after posting a winning record on their challenging trip. The Baltimore Orioles, meanwhile, haven't enjoyed much success on the road.

Seattle goes for its 10th win in 12 home games Monday night when it opens a three-game set against an Orioles club that can't hold a lead lately.

The Mariners (42-39) failed to sweep their first-ever three-game series at Fenway Park, losing 8-4 to Boston on Sunday. That left them with a 5-4 record on a trip that included series against the major league-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and the surging New York Yankees.

Seattle rallied from two runs down to defeat the Red Sox in the first two games of the series.

"I thought we put ourselves in a position to win," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said Sunday. "I thought we played this game similarly to how we have the last four or five game, going into the seventh with a one-run lead."

The Mariners' bullpen, though, walked four and allowed five runs in two innings.

Against Baltimore this season, though, Seattle's relievers have posted a 1.08 ERA while walking one and giving up eight hits in 16 2-3 innings.

The Mariners have won four of six versus the Orioles in 2009, including two of three at Safeco Field from June 1-3. Left-hander Jarrod Washburn (4-6, 3.36 ERA) lost the June 1 matchup despite surrendering one run and six hits over seven innings in a 1-0 loss. Seattle had a season-low two hits.

In Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Yankees, Washburn gave up a season-high three homers and four runs over seven innings, but the Mariners had only six hits.

"If we get any offense at all, we'd have given Wash a chance to win this game," Wakamatsu said.

Washburn, who has received the AL's fewest runs per game at 3.46, is 0-4 with a 6.06 ERA in his last six starts against the Orioles.

While Seattle is trying to win its sixth straight series at home, Baltimore begins the final leg of its seven-game trip. The Orioles (36-46) lost their second straight on Sunday, 9-6 to the Los Angeles Angels. After leading 4-0 on Saturday before falling 11-4, Baltimore couldn't hold on to Sunday's 4-0 third-inning advantage.

"You score six runs and you think you're going to win. It just didn't happen," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said after his team dropped three of four in Anaheim. "We had leads in the game and couldn't hold the leads."

Baltimore is an AL-worst 12-26 on the road, where it has lost six of seven.

Orioles rookie Brad Bergesen (5-2, 3.53) has yet to win away from home, going 0-1 with a 4.88 ERA in five starts.

The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in two outings versus Seattle. In a 3-2 loss at Safeco Field on June 3, Bergesen did not factor in the decision after yielding two runs and five hits over seven innings.

He is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in his last seven overall starts.

Ichiro Suzuki, named an All-Star starter for the eighth time Sunday, has hit safely in his last eight home games. He is batting .571 (20 for 35) during this stretch and is a lifetime .372 hitter against Baltimore.

Orioles All-Star center fielder Adam Jones, acquired from Seattle prior to the 2008 season, is batting .412 (14 for 34) in eight career games visiting Safeco Field. He is 4 for 9 with three doubles against Washburn.

Seattle has won five of seven against Baltimore after losing eight of the previous nine meetings.