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Mariners-Royals Preview

Aug 4, 2009 - 2:20 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Seattle (54-51) at Kansas City (41-63), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Mariners have faded in the playoff chase thanks to a rough stretch over the last 10 days. A trip to Kansas City doesn't seem like the best way for them to get back on track.

The Mariners look to rebound from their latest loss and avoid their seventh straight defeat at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday night when they open a three-game series against the Royals.

Seattle (54-51) opened the second half by going 5-2 on a seven-game road trip, but has dropped seven of 10 since then, including three of four in a weekend series at Texas. The Mariners, averaging 3.10 runs during the slump, lost the finale 4-2 on Sunday night.

Snapping out of that offensive funk could be a challenge at Kauffman Stadium, where Seattle has lost 10 of 12 since July 2, 2007, including six in a row. The Mariners, who have averaged 2.08 runs in those 12 games, were outscored 12-2 while dropping their first two in Kansas City this season May 6-7.

Seattle's struggling offense could get a boost from the return of Adrian Beltre. Sidelined since late June by a shoulder injury that required surgery, the veteran third baseman has hit .367 with five homers, 17 RBIs and 13 runs scored in 21 career games at Kansas City.

"His swing looks good right now," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu told the team's official Web site. "And we're hoping he has an immediate impact."

Royals outfielder David DeJesus went 3 for 7 with two doubles and two runs scored in these teams' first two meetings of 2009, and first baseman Billy Butler was 5 for 8 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Thanks in part to those contributions, Kansas City (41-64) has averaged 5.75 runs and batted .299 during its 10-2 stretch against Seattle.

The Royals, however, haven't been nearly as effective at the plate lately. The team with the AL's worst record has been outscored 40-17 while dropping five of its last six.

Manager Trey Hillman missed Kansas City's 10-4 loss at Tampa Bay on Monday to tend to a family matter. He might be back with the club Tuesday.

Luke Hochevar (6-4, 5.28 ERA) will start for the Royals hoping to rebound from one of his worst outings of the year. After allowing four earned runs and 12 hits while striking out 22 over 13 1-3 innings spanning his first two starts after the All-Star game, the right-hander gave up seven runs and a career-high 11 hits in six innings of a 7-3 loss at Baltimore on Thursday.

Despite the rough outing, Hochevar says he's getting more comfortable on the mound.

"The more times you run out there, the more times you take the ball, the more confident you feel," he told the Royals' official Web site Monday. "I'm starting to figure out a lot of things, pitchability-wise, and I'm starting to figure out a lot of things about myself and kind of evolving into the pitcher I can be."

Hochevar held the Mariners to one run and five hits in seven innings of a 3-1 win in his first start against them last July 11.

The Mariners will hand the ball to Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-1, 3.12). The left-hander, who's been limited to three starts in 2009 because of an arm injury, took a no-hitter into the seventh before eventually giving up two runs and three hits in seven innings of a 3-2 victory over Toronto on Wednesday.

Rowland-Smith made his only start against Kansas City on Sept. 17. He gave up one run and three hits in six innings of Seattle's 5-2 loss.