• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Mariners try to close out road trip with sweep of Rockies

May 20, 2012 - 2:47 PM (Sports Network) - After a rough start to their current 10-game road trip, the Seattle Mariners could wrap up the swing with a series sweep if they can defeat the Colorado Rockies when the two meet in the series finale of a three- game set this afternoon.

Seattle blanked the Colorado offense on Friday night and captured a 4-0 win. In Saturday's matchup the Mariners again ended up on the winning side in convincing fashion, posting a 10-3 victory. It was the first time this season the Mariners have scored 10 or more runs in a game.

Kyle Seager went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the game and has really played well in the series. Casper Wells also had a pair of hits and an RBI and Jesus Montero added a three-hit game himself in the offensive eruption by the Mariners.

With the Mariners offense clicking, pressure was taken off of Seattle starter Jason Vargas, who easily picked up his fifth win of the season after lasting seven innings in which he allowed three runs on five hits.

Seattle has now won consecutive games after going just 1-6 in the first seven games of its current road trip.

After impressing in his first two career starts, Christian Friedrich looked like a rookie in his third start in the majors. The 2008 first-round selection allowed eight runs over five innings in which he gave up nine hits and walked four. Friedrich had allowed only 11 hits and two runs in his first two starts.

Willin Rosario's sixth home run of the season brought in a pair of runs and Jordan Pacheco also had an RBI in the losing effort for the Rockies, who have lost three straight.

Blake Beavan will get the ball to try to pitch the Mariners to their first series sweep of the season.

Beavan is in his first season as a regular in the Mariners' rotation and has thus far been less than impressive. The right-hander is just 1-4 in seven starts with an ERA of 4.58.

Beavan has also not been able to get deep into games, making it past the fifth only three times in seven starts.

On Thursday Beavan got through only four innings before being pulled after allowing three runs on five hits in a 5-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox.

Beavan has just one start in interleague play but it was a strong outing. The 23-year-old earned a win after pitching seven innings and allowing one run on three hits against the San Diego Padres last season.

Making his first start against AL competition since moving from the AL East to the NL West will be Jeremy Guthrie, who gets the start for Colorado.

Guthrie spent his first eight seasons in the AL, most notably with the Baltimore Orioles for whom he went 47-65 with a 4.21 ERA in 161 games over five seasons before being traded to Colorado in February.

The right-hander's time in Colorado has been uneven at best. Guthrie had an ERA approached eight after his first three starts and was also placed on the 15-day DL on April 27th after injuring his right shoulder. Guthrie missed two starts because of the injury.

On Thursday Guthrie went 5 1/3 innings and allowed just one run that was unearned while striking out four in his first start since returning from the DL.

It is unfortunate that Guthrie missed time in May, which has traditionally been his best month. Guthrie is 10-12 with a 3.20 ERA that is the lowest ERA and ties for the most wins in any month.

Guthrie is 2-5 with a 3.72 ERA in nine career starts against Seattle.

These teams last met on the diamond in June of 2009 when the Colorado Rockies swept a home series at Coors Field.