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Rangers-Mariners Preview

Jul 10, 2009 - 6:49 AM Texas (47-37) at Seattle (44-41), 10:10 p.m. EDT

Franklin Gutierrez is doing his part to help the Seattle Mariners remain a serious contender in the AL West.

The emerging outfielder looks to continue his torrid pace and help the Mariners to a second straight victory over the division-leading Texas Rangers on Friday night at Safeco Field.

Gutierrez extended his hitting streak to 12 games with two hits, including a three-run homer in the eighth inning, to help Seattle (44-41) rally for a 3-1 victory in Thursday's opener of this four-game set.

The Mariners avoided a third straight loss and beat Texas (47-37) for the first time in six tries this season. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of the Rangers, who lead the Los Angeles Angels by one-half game in the West.

"This was a great victory," Gutierrez said. "We have had some tough losses the last two games."

Gutierrez is certainly doing his part for the Mariners, who've won five of their last eight. After spending his first three full seasons with Cleveland, Gutierrez is batting a career-high .297 this year, and .479 (23 for 48) with three homers and 10 RBIs during his hitting streak.

The versatile outfielder has two home runs and six RBIs against Texas in 2009.

Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki had three hits Thursday to raise his average to .356, but is just 1 for 12 against Texas' scheduled starter Scott Feldman.

Feldman (7-2, 3.91 ERA) allowed one earned run and three hits while walking four in six innings of a 5-2 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.

"I'd like to go deeper into the games," said Feldman, who's won two in a row but pitched into the seventh inning only three times in 14 starts. "As long as I keep learning something and making it better, hopefully I'll keep improving. That's my goal."

Feldman has a 3.26 ERA with no record in three starts versus Seattle. He gave up one run in 6 1-3 innings of a 7-1 win over the Mariners on May 12.

Seattle counters with Brandon Morrow (0-3, 5.05), who's coming off his longest outing in five starts since moving from the bullpen last month.

The right-hander, who has yet to factor in a decision from any of his starts, allowed three runs and six hits while striking out a season-high seven in six innings of an 8-4 loss at Boston on Sunday.

"I thought it was my best outing so far," Morrow told the Mariners' official Web site.

Morrow, who has a 3.97 ERA since entering the rotation, makes his first start against Texas after going 1-3 with a 3.95 ERA in 12 relief appearances versus the Rangers.

Hank Blalock is 3 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs in his career versus Morrow. He had two of the Rangers' three hits Thursday and is 7 for 11 in his last three games.

After recording 16 runs and 26 hits in winning the final two of a three-game road set with the Angels, the Rangers hope to bounce back after losing for the second time in nine contests.