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Mariners wrap up set with Padres

May 22, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - The American League West is very competitive and even though the Mariners are in last place they sit just two games out of first place. Seattle will look to remain in the race for the division lead when it battles the San Diego Padres in a the finale of a three-game series at Petco Park.

The Mariners will have a tremendous chance to rack up their fourth straight win, as they will send their ace, Felix Hernandez, to the hill this afternoon. However, the reigning Cy Young winner has dropped his last two starts and has just one win in his last four matchups.

In the most recent loss to Minnesota, the hard-throwing right-hander allowed only two runs and struck out nine batters in eight innings, but that was not good enough to avoid his fourth loss on the year.

While Hernandez is still young, he has plenty experience against the Padres and will be making his eighth career start against San Diego. In his previous seven outings the right-hander has posted a 3-2 ledger with a mediocre 3.40 earned run average.

As for the Padres, they will hand the ball to Tim Stauffer. The Padres are 5-4 in Stauffer's starts this season, but the 28-year-old only has an 0-2 record to show for his efforts.

Stauffer's second loss came in his last start, as the right-hander allowed four runs on seven hits against Arizona. It was the second poor start for Stauffer, who has allowed 10 runs over his last two outings.

The right-hander has made one career start against Seattle in his career and it was a forgettable one, as he surrendered four runs on seven hits and three walks in just 5 2/3 innings of action.

On Saturday, rookie hurler Michael Pineda sparkled again, striking out nine batters and giving up just two hits in seven innings, and the Mariners rolled to a 4-0 victory over the Padres.

Pineda (6-2) walked just one batter and was rarely in trouble, giving up only a double to Orlando Hudson in the second inning and a single to Eric Patterson in the sixth.

The 22-year-old righty struck out the last three batters he faced in the seventh, turning the ball over to the Seattle bullpen to lock down the club's fourth straight win.

San Diego has dropped four of its last five games. Clayton Richard (2-5) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings.

The Padres were shut out for the ninth time this season and the sixth time at home -- tied for the most ever in a season at Petco Park. The Mariners picked up their fifth shutout of the year.

San Diego, basement dwellers in the NL West, won four of six meetings with Seattle a year ago and is 97-129 all-time in interleague play. The Mariners own a solid 138-112 mark against the National League.