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Angels-Mariners Preview

May 9, 2010 - 6:30 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Los Angeles (14-18) at Seattle (11-19), 4:10 p.m. EDT

With a spacious ballpark that tailors to their strengths of pitching and defense, the Seattle Mariners felt good about their prospects at Safeco Field after going 7-2 on their first homestand.

Their second one hasn't gone according to plan.

Seattle tries to avoid a winless nine-game homestand, while Ervin Santana and the Los Angeles Angels look to stymie the Mariners' sputtering offense and complete a three-game sweep Sunday.

The Angels (14-18) began their road trip 0-7 before arriving in the Pacific Northwest, but Seattle's problems have proven to be more profound. Los Angeles followed Friday's 8-0 victory with a 4-3, 10-inning win Saturday night.

The Mariners (11-19) have scored three or fewer runs in each game on this homestand, totaling 12 runs and batting .173. They drew nine walks Saturday but stranded 12 runners, three in the ninth inning.

"Again, it comes down to timely hitting. That's a ballgame we should win with the amount of walks they gave up," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "You've got to score runs when you need it.

"At some point, somebody's going to have to step up and get a big hit."

The Mariners also lost eight straight at home during the 2008 season, and Ken Griffey Jr. was a rookie the last time they dropped nine in a row in Seattle - a franchise-record 11-game skid at the Kingdome from Aug. 16-Sept. 10, 1989.

Among the struggling Mariners are former Angels infielders Chone Figgins and Casey Kotchman. Figgins is batting .192 after going 0 for 6 in his first two games against his former team, while Kotchman is 1 for 31 during this homestand.

Seattle had six players in the starting lineup Saturday with batting averages under .200, and the team has a major league-low 10 home runs.

Santana (1-2, 4.02 ERA) may be eager to get his turn against an offense that ranks last in the AL in batting average (.225) and runs (94). The right-hander lost his first two outings but has gone 1-0 with a 2.83 ERA in his last four.

Although Los Angeles lost 5-1 at Boston on Tuesday, Santana was pleased with his performance after allowing one run and striking out seven with one walk in seven innings.

"When I needed to make good pitches, I did it," Santana told the Angels' official website.

Since the start of 2008, Santana is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts at Seattle.

Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas has also been sharp there this year, going 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA in three starts. Vargas (2-2, 3.69) lost Tuesday despite striking out a career-high eight and holding Tampa Bay to three runs in 6 2-3 innings.

The Angels are going for a sixth straight win against Seattle dating to September. Hideki Matsui provided the go-ahead hit Saturday with an RBI single in the 10th - the 1,500th RBI of his career between Japan and the majors.

Matsui was 2 for 5 after going 4 for 42 in his previous 12 games.

"I'm just happy. I'm certainly not at my best right now, but to be able to come through in a very important situation in the game is definitely satisfying," Matsui said through an interpreter.