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Mariners eye series win over Rays

Jul 31, 2011 - 2:44 PM (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays wrap up a three- game set this afternoon with the rubber match at Safeco Field.

Jeremy Hellickson is expected to get the ball for the Rays, and he has been a solid starter so far this season. Hellickson is 9-7 with a 3.27 ERA and has allowed a mere 89 hits in 115 2/3 innings of work. On Monday, the righty allowed three earned runs on four hits in five innings against Oakland and didn't figure in the decision.

Hellickson made his first-ever start against Seattle earlier this season and picked up a win after yielding a mere one earned run on three hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Through 21 starts, Seattle?s Jason Vargas is 6-9 with a 4.09 ERA, numbers that aren't going to scare the Rays at all. On Monday, Vargas lasted only four innings against the Yankees, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits. He is 0-3 in his last three outings with a 9.69 ERA.

Vargas pitched a gem in his first meeting with the Rays this season, yet he is still 1-2 career versus Tampa.

The Mariners picked up just their second win since the All-Star break on Saturday, as Michael Pineda gave up just one hit over 6 1/3 innings to guide Seattle to a 3-2 triumph.

Pineda (9-7), who carried a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings, gave up two runs -- one earned -- while fanning a career-high 10.

Ben Zobrist recorded the Rays' lone hit while knocking in both runs for Tampa Bay, which has lost four of six.

Alex Cobb (3-1) was pegged with his first career loss after giving up three runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Seattle acquired pitcher Charlie Furbush, third baseman Francisco Martinez, outfielder Casper Wells and a player to be named later from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for pitchers Doug Fister and David Pauley on Saturday.