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Mariners-Athletics Preview

Sep 6, 2010 - 1:36 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Seattle (53-83) at Oakland (67-68), 4:05 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Mariners are mired in one of the franchise's worst scoring slumps and facing Oakland's Brett Anderson isn't likely to help.

The Mariners look to snap a five-game losing streak in Oakland when they open a three-game series against the Athletics on Monday.

A weak offense has been an issue all season for Seattle, which ranks last in the majors in batting average (.236) and runs per game (3.2). Generating offense has been even more of a problem lately with the team scoring three or fewer runs in 10 straight games, the second-longest streak in franchise history. The longest is 12 games set June 10-22, 1988.

"Sometimes I think it's coincidence more than anything else and sometimes there might be a feeling of you may not have to score very many because you know how good the guy is on the mound," manager Daren Brown said after a 3-0 win over Cleveland on Sunday.

Felix Hernandez overcame the lack of support, striking out nine over eight innings to help the Mariners earn a split of the four-game series with the Indians.

Seattle (54-83) hasn't fared much better at the plate against Anderson (3-6, 3.17 ERA), who opens the series for Oakland (67-69) on Monday. The Mariners have hit .203 in three games against him, but have managed to win two of those contests.

Anderson, who is 1-1 in those outings with a 0.47 ERA, has lost his last four decisions, including a defeat to Seattle on Aug. 10 in which he gave up one run in seven innings of a 2-0 loss.

The left-hander allowed four runs - one earned - in six innings of a 4-3 loss to the Yankees on Wednesday. Anderson has a 3.21 ERA over his last five starts but is winless during that span due mainly to an offense that has supported him with seven total runs.

On Monday, he may not be able to count on one of the team's hottest hitters to be healthy. Kevin Kouzmanoff left Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Angels in the fifth inning with lower back spasms. It's not known if Kouzmanoff, who has four homers and 12 RBIs in the last 12 games, will play Monday.

Oakland dropped the finale of its series against the Angels after winning the first two games. It entered the weekend having lost four in a row on the road against the Yankees.

The Athletics will try to bounce back against Jason Vargas (9-8, 3.55 ERA), who has lost his last three starts.

Vargas gave up three runs and four hits in seven innings of a 4-2 loss to the Angels on Wednesday. The left-hander has a 6.52 ERA over his last three starts after going 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA to open August.

Vargas made his first start against Oakland on April 14, allowing two runs in six innings of a 4-2 win.