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Mariners-Angels Preview

Sep 9, 2010 - 5:00 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Editor

Seattle (55-85) at Los Angeles (67-73), 10:05 p.m. EDT

As Jered Weaver tries to snap the longest losing streak of his career, the Los Angeles Angels ace will be happy to face an opponent he's beaten more often than any other.

Some run support would also help Weaver, who's looking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat as the Angels open a three-game set against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Los Angeles' anemic offense has contributed to Weaver (11-11, 3.14 ERA) going without a victory since Aug. 6, scoring two runs over 34 innings for the right-hander in his last five starts - with Weaver going 0-4 with a 4.85 ERA in that stretch.

The last two outings were especially frustrating for Weaver, who went 0-2 despite a 2.40 ERA. He was outpitched by Oakland's Trevor Cahill in a 3-1 loss Saturday.

"I can only do my job and it just hasn't been there," Weaver said. "I'm going to go out there and battle as best I can and let the chips fall where they may and the chips aren't falling in the right spot right now."

Only the last-place Mariners (55-85) have averaged fewer runs than Los Angeles since Aug. 15. The Angels (67-73) have scored one or zero runs 10 times while going 7-15 in that stretch, all but extinguishing any chance of a fourth consecutive AL West title.

They managed six hits in 16 innings against Cleveland on Wednesday, although they avoided a three-game sweep when Jeff Mathis' sacrifice fly gave them a 4-3 win.

"On the offensive side, it was like root canal. Some things are a little painful right now," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "We just couldn't execute some little things that might have ended it a lot sooner."

Los Angeles may not need much offense to win Friday, considering Weaver is 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA in three outings against the Mariners this year. He's helped the Angels go 12-4 in the season series, and his 10 wins against Seattle are his most against any team.

Weaver, who needs five strikeouts to take over the major league lead from the Mariners' Felix Hernandez, has been especially sharp at home in 2010, posting a 1.60 ERA in 13 outings. He's worked at least seven innings while allowing two or fewer earned runs in each of his last nine games at Angel Stadium.

Mariners starter David Pauley (2-7, 4.42) can relate to Weaver's recent woes. The right-hander hasn't gotten any run support while losing his last three starts, although he has a 6.11 ERA in that stretch.

He allowed four runs in six innings of a 5-3 loss to the Angels on Aug. 30.

Hideki Matsui had one of three home runs off Pauley in that game - part of an impressive stretch for the designated hitter, who is batting .403 with 17 RBIs in his last 20 games.

Ichiro Suzuki has been Seattle's hottest hitter, going 18 for 44 during a 10-game hitting streak. He's 17 hits shy of a record 10th consecutive 200-hit season.

The Mariners have still struggled to establish any offensive momentum and are last in the majors in runs, batting average and on-base percentage. They were held to three runs or fewer for the 15th time in 17 games Wednesday, blowing an early 3-0 lead and losing 4-3 at Oakland.