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Mariners return home to face Dodgers

Jun 8, 2012 - 3:03 PM (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners didn't dominate over their recent road trip, but did put together a winning trip thanks to some hot bats. They'll hope yesterday's off day didn't cool things off as they open a three-game series tonight with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mariners went 5-4 on a nine-game swing through Texas, Chicago and Los Angeles and scored 66 runs over the trip. Seattle hit .281 and clubbed 14 homers over the swing, which was highlighted with a 21-8 victory over the Rangers on May 30.

The M's took the rubber match of a three-game set with the Angels on Wednesday 8-4. Kyle Seager had a pair of two-run singles and Michael Saunders continued his hot hitting with three hits a pair of runs scored. Saunders batted .487 on the road trip with five doubles, two homers and five RBI.

"This was a good road trip for us," said Seager. "We're playing with a lot of confidence right now. Any time you're winning, you're going to have a lot more fun."

Mike Carp drove in two runs and Ichiro Suzuki added a homer, two RBI and three runs scored in victory.

Seattle will look to support starter Kevin Millwood tonight as the righty aims to rebound from a shaky outing last time out.

Millwood went 3-0 with a 0.67 earned run average in four starts -- a span that included 17 straight scoreless innings -- before a loss to the White Sox on Sunday in which he gave up four runs on seven hits and five walks over just four innings. It was Millwood's shortest outing in nine starts and dropped him to 3-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 11 games this season.

"I wasn't locating my fastball very well," said Millwood. "They just found some holes and I walked too many guys. I just wasn't able to make pitches when I needed to."

The 37-year-old has struggled in four home starts this season, going 1-2 with a 7.08 ERA. In 11 career starts against the Dodgers, he is 6-3 with a 2.84 ERA.

Los Angeles heads back to the West Coast following a four-game sweep in Philadelphia. The Dodgers, who had lost six of seven prior to the set, took three one-run games to open the series before capping it off with yesterday's 8-3 win. It was a tight contest throughout until L.A. broke things open with a four-run ninth.

"With the exception of that one inning where we ended up getting ahead by a bunch, the series was a one-run game throughout," remarked catcher Matt Treanor, who had a pair of hits and an RBI. "That's the mentality we're going to have to take throughout the season."

James Loney went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored and came up with a big hit in the Dodgers' three-run come-from-behind sixth inning. Aaron Harang battled through some early pressure to go six strong innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out three and walked one in his 100th career win.

Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will face the Mariners for the first time in his career as he makes his third start of 2012 for the Dodgers.

Eovaldi has pitched well in his first two outings, but has been handed a pair of one-run losses. The Dodgers have scored just one run in the 12 2/3 innings he has been on the hill.

The 22-year-old took a loss at Colorado on Sunday, charged with three runs -- two earned -- on five hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings. he threw a career-high 102 pitches and has a 2.84 ERA on the season.

In 12 career outings, including eight starts, Eovaldi is 1-4 with a 3.42 ERA.

The Mariners have won each of their past four series with the Dodgers, including the most recent encounters in Los Angeles in 2009. These clubs are meeting in Seattle for the first time since 2000.