• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Mariners-Royals Preview

Aug 5, 2009 - 6:10 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Seattle (54-51) at Kansas City (41-64), 8:10 p.m. EDT

Kauffman Stadium has been tough on the Seattle Mariners recently, but that hasn't kept Ichiro Suzuki from putting up big numbers there.

Suzuki and the Mariners look to clinch their first series win over the Kansas City Royals in more two years Wednesday when the clubs continue their three-game set.

Seattle (55-51) snapped a six-game losing streak to Kansas City (41-65) on Tuesday, holding on for a 7-6 win. The Mariners had totaled seven runs in the six losses.

Suzuki had two of Seattle's 14 hits Tuesday and scored three times. He homered on the second pitch of the game, and went into a feet-first slide to make the game-ending catch in foul territory with the bases loaded.

"Fantastic," Seattle shortstop Jack Wilson said. "The concentration level, running that hard and knowing the wall is there, it's a pretty awesome play."

The Mariners haven't won a series against the Royals since sweeping a three-game set at Kansas City in May 2007. They had since lost 10 of 12 games there, averaging 2.1 runs, before Tuesday's win.

Despite those struggles, Ichiro has played well at Kauffman. He is hitting .369 in his career at Kansas City, including .426 during the last three seasons.

The Mariners may need Ichiro to keep up that hot hitting as Adrian Beltre shakes off the rust. The third baseman returned to the lineup Tuesday for the first time since late June and went hitless in five at-bats, striking out three times and committing an error. Beltre had been out with a shoulder injury that required surgery.

Kansas City, meanwhile, has lost 17 of 21 and has allowed at least seven runs in each defeat during its current 1-6 slump.

Luke French (1-2, 3.38 ERA) will try to extend Kansas City's struggles when he makes his Mariners debut on Wednesday.

French was part of the deal that sent Jarrod Washburn to Detroit before the trading deadline. He's lost his last two starts and gave up a season-high six runs in five innings of a 7-3 loss to Texas last Tuesday.

"I looked at some of the highlights and his breaking ball is what really impressed me," manager Don Wakamatsu told the Mariners' official Web site. "He also has a quality changeup."

French's lone major league victory came in his only start against the Royals, giving up one run in 6 1-3 innings of a 3-1 win July 8.

Kyle Davies (3-7, 5.76) will return to the rotation for Kansas City after Sidney Ponson was designated for assignment over the weekend.

Davies hasn't pitched since June 19 against St. Louis when he allowed eight runs and nine hits in 2 2-3 innings of a 10-5 loss. The right-hander had lost six of seven starts before being sent to the minors, and posted a 7.67 ERA in the final five.

Davies, though, is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA against the Mariners in his only two starts against them - both last season.