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Mariners-Indians Preview

Aug 14, 2010 - 3:41 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Seattle (44-71) at Cleveland (48-67), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Mariners are playing well for interim manager Daren Brown. Jason Vargas hopes to make sure that success continues.

Vargas tries to win his third straight start as the Mariners look to post consecutive road wins for the first time in more than a month Saturday night against the Cleveland Indians.

The Mariners are 3-1 since Brown replaced the fired Don Wakamatsu on Monday. After taking two of three at home against Oakland, Seattle (45-71) snapped a seven-game road skid with a 3-2 win over Cleveland on Friday.

"I'm trying to look at things in a positive light," Brown told the Mariners' official website.

Now, the Mariners continue their season-high 12-game trip trying to win back-to-back road contests for the first time since June 29-30 at Yankee Stadium. The Mariners have won five of seven at Cleveland.

An AL-worst 16-39 on the road, Seattle also heads to Baltimore, New York and Boston on the extended trip.

"On road trips, I know it's always good to have a good start," said Brown, who was promoted from his job as manager of Triple-A Tacoma. "Hopefully, we'll continue that."

David Pauley went six strong innings for his first career victory in the opener and now Vargas (8-5, 3.12 ERA) hopes to continue his recent success.

After going 0-3 with a 4.58 ERA over a six-start stretch, Vargas has posted a 2.25 ERA while winning his last two outings. He allowed a run and four hits in six innings of a 3-2 win over Kansas City on Sunday.

"He stays on the attack and keeps you off balance," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I was impressed with him."

The left-hander hopes his second start against Cleveland goes better than his first. He allowed six runs in four innings of a 12-3 home loss July 26, 2009.

Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and former Indian Russell Branyan drove in a run Friday for the Mariners, who have won four of five without scoring more than three runs in any of those games. The Mariners' 373 runs are last in the majors.

While his team has struggled to score, Suzuki is batting .329 in his last 17 games. He is a lifetime .344 hitter against the Indians.

The Mariners will get their first look at Cleveland's Mitch Talbot (8-9, 4.09), who is expected to come off a stint on the disabled list with a back strain to make his first start since July 29.

The right-hander allowed one run and two hits in three innings of a rehab start for Class A Mahoning Valley on Monday.

"Everything went very well," manager Manny Acta told the Indians' official website. "He should be able to go."

Talbot was 0-3 with a 4.94 ERA in five starts prior to the injury.

Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo each had two hits Friday for the Indians (48-68), who are 2-5 on a nine-game homestand.

Cabrera is 6 for 14 in his last four games.