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Mariners-Athletics Preview

Sep 3, 2009 - 3:27 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Seattle (69-64) at Oakland (58-74), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Mariners are trying to be cautious with Ichiro Suzuki, but the right fielder isn't showing any hesitation at the plate.

Suzuki and the Mariners look to win their fifth straight over the Oakland Athletics when the AL West rivals open a four-game series Thursday at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

After getting shut out in back-to-back losses, Seattle (70-64) responded with stellar pitching of its own in a 2-1 victory Tuesday and a 3-0 win Wednesday over West-leading Los Angeles. Felix Hernandez recorded his 14th win Wednesday, allowing four hits in eight innings, while Bill Hall drove in one run and scored the other for the Mariners.

Suzuki, who had missed eight games with tightness in his calf, had two hits for the second straight contest and scored a run. Manager Don Wakamatsu said Tuesday that the Mariners were carefully observing their right fielder to avoid further aggravating the injury, but the calf doesn't seem to be bothering him.

With 188 hits, Suzuki is trying to become the first player in major league history to have nine consecutive seasons with at least 200. He is hitting .448 in six games against the Athletics in 2009, and has a 13-game hitting streak against them going back to last season.

Seattle is 9-3 in the season series against Oakland, and has won four straight games versus the A's.

Oakland (59-74) won two of three at home against Kansas City this week, including a 10-4 victory Wednesday. The Athletics have alternated wins and losses in their last eight games.

Oakland took an 8-0 lead after rookie catcher Landon Powell, starting in place of Kurt Suzuki, hit a grand slam in the second inning. Powell is hitting .255 with 27 RBIs in his first 36 games.

"A backup catcher's job is very difficult," manager Bob Geren said. "He deserves a lot of credit for what he's done in the role he's done it."

Seeking to win consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 22-23, Geren's team will face Ian Snell (3-1, 5.10 ERA), who has won his last three starts after going winless in his first three with Seattle following a trade from the Pirates.

Snell gave up two runs and three hits in five innings of an 8-4 win over the Royals on Saturday, staying in the game despite being hit so hard on the wrist that he thought it was broken.

The right-hander gave up one run in six innings of a 3-1 win over Oakland on Aug. 24.

He'll be opposed by Brett Tomko (3-2, 3.62), making his fourth start joining the Oakland rotation in mid-August. After winning his first two starts, he gave up two runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 11-7 loss to the Angels on Friday, although he did not receive a decision.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in two career starts against the Mariners. He has yet to face them this season.

The Mariners expect to get Ken Griffey, Jr. back in the lineup after he missed six straight games because of a sore left knee. Griffey is 7 for 17 with a homer and four walks in his career against Tomko.