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Angels-Mariners Preview

Sep 1, 2009 - 6:33 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (78-52) at Seattle (68-64), 10:10 p.m. EDT

While the Seattle Mariners offense should improve with Ichiro Suzuki and Adrian Beltre back in the lineup, it may still not be enough to compete with the Los Angeles Angels.

After being shut out for the second consecutive game, the Mariners look to bounce back and help their fading playoff hopes when they continue a three-game series with visiting Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The AL West-leading Angels (78-52) continued their tear at the plate Monday, beating Seattle (68-64) 10-0. It was their fourth win in six contests and gave them a six-game lead over Texas and an 11-game cushion on Seattle in the division.

Although it may be too late to make a run at the postseason, the Mariners will get two of their best hitters back Tuesday. Suzuki returns after missing eight games with tightness in his calf while Beltre is expected to come off the disabled list from a bruised testicle.

Suzuki, who expressed frustration with how conservative the team was being with his injury, is seeking to become the first player to have nine consecutive seasons with at least 200 hits. He is 16 shy. The right fielder would also tie the AL record for most 200-hit seasons held by Ty Cobb, one behind Pete Rose's major league record.

Manager Don Wakamatsu said Suzuki wanted to play Monday, but he elected to hold him out another game.

"We felt one more day would help us a whole lot for everyone to feel safer," he said. "I could sit there and go 'Oh, we're playing the Angels today, we need you in there - and we will risk the fact that you might get hurt again.' We're not going to do that."

Suzuki is hitting .375 versus the Angels this season and has a 13-game hitting streak against them dating back to last season. Beltre, who hasn't played since Aug. 12, is hitting .235 against Los Angeles.

The Mariners will need both to pick up the offense, which has been held to four total hits in the last two games. The Angels, meanwhile, have scored 33 runs in their last four contests. Vladimir Guerrero homered twice and Juan Rivera hit a three-run shot Monday.

Guerrero, who is hitting .341 in the last 10 games, has three multi-home run games this season and 20 with the Angels to tie Tim Salmon's team record.

"He's incredible," Mariners catcher Rob Johnson told his team's official Web site. "He's a bad-ball hitter, he's a good-ball hitter. ... He's on time right now and barreling balls up."

Los Angeles will try to win its third straight when it sends Ervin Santana (7-7, 5.94 ERA) to the mound.

Santana had his four-game winning streak snapped Thursday after he allowed two runs in six innings of a 2-0 loss to Oakland. The right-hander has a 2.67 ERA in his last four starts.

Santana is 6-3 with a 4.36 ERA against Seattle, including 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA this season.

The Mariners will counter with rookie Doug Fister (1-1, 3.42), who is making his fifth start and sixth appearance this year.

Fister, who is facing the Angels for the first time, struggled Thursday against Kansas City, yielding five runs and three homers over six innings of an 8-4 loss. The right-hander had a 2.33 ERA in his first three starts.