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Mariners-Royals Preview

Apr 25, 2010 - 11:08 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Seattle (9-9) at Kansas City (6-11), 8:10 p.m. EDT

In need of a stopper, the Seattle Mariners are sending Felix Hernandez to the mound at an ideal time.

Following a disappointing series, the Mariners hope their ace can give them yet another strong effort as they open a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

Seattle (9-10) was swept for the first time this season, losing three games to Chicago over the weekend. The Mariners ran into a hot pitcher in John Danks on Sunday, falling 3-2.

Seattle had won seven of eight entering that series.

Hernandez (2-0, 2.15 ERA) was the starter in the last game the Mariners won, and it was his best performance of the season. He pitched a complete game, striking out six in a 4-1 win over Baltimore on Wednesday night.

The only run he allowed was unearned.

"It's nice when you have your No. 1 pitcher do that, step up, and it constantly gives you that belief system for future games," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "And maybe the message is the efficiency. We'll let you pitch."

Hernandez has won nine straight decisions and posted a franchise-record 17 straight quality starts. In 29 1-3 innings this season, he has allowed one home run while striking out 24.

The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.97 ERA in five starts versus the Royals.

Seattle's lineup needs a bounce-back game as it tries to give Hernandez some support. Wakamatsu hopes to have left fielder Milton Bradley and shortstop Jack Wilson back to help.

Bradley has missed four straight games with a strained calf, and Wilson has sat out the last two due to a thumb injury.

One of the few bright spots at the plate for the Mariners was Franklin Gutierrez, who has homered in two straight games. The center fielder has 12 RBIs after setting a career high with 70 last season, his first with Seattle.

Gutierrez is 8 for 13 against Kyle Davies (1-1, 4.82), who will open this series for Kansas City (7-11). Davies is coming off the worst of his three starts this season, giving up four runs in six innings of a 4-3 loss to Toronto on Tuesday night.

The right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.74 ERA in four starts against the Mariners.

Kansas City got a strong start from Brian Bannister on Sunday, avoiding a three-game sweep with a 4-3 win over Minnesota.

Jose Guillen had yet another impressive game for the Royals, hitting his seventh homer and driving in two runs. Guillen, who had 23 homers and 99 RBIs for Seattle in 2007, has moved from right field into the designated hitter's spot following an injury-riddled 2009 season.

"He's been tremendous," manager Trey Hillman said. "For me, it all goes back to his health. He's feeling pretty good."

Guillen has 17 RBIs and a .716 slugging percentage. He is facing Hernandez for the first time.

Kansas City went 5-4 against Seattle last season. The Royals have won 11 of the last 15 matchups at Kauffman Stadium.