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Winless Weaver looks to snap Seattle's losing skid

Jun 20, 2007 - 2:14 PM Pittsburgh (31-39) at Seattle (35-32) 10:05 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- After playing some of their best baseball of the season just over a week ago, the Seattle Mariners look to end their six-game losing streak when they continue their three-game interleague series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

The Mariners, who won a season-high five consecutive games from June 8-12, have tied their season low by dropping their past six contests. One of the main culprits is an offense that scored five or more runs in 10 out of 11 games to start the month, but has not scored more than four during their current skid.

Something that would help their cause in snapping the losing streak is if Seattle could get some return on their investment in Jeff Weaver (0-6, 10.97 ERA). The club is looking for the righthander's first win after signing him to a one-year deal in the offseason to a contract worth in excess of $8 million.

Weaver, who went on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis after posting a 14.32 ERA in his first six starts, has pitched a bit better since his return. He recorded two no- decisions, allowing four earned runs in his last 10 innings, lowering his ERA nearly three and a half runs in the process. Included in that run was his outing on Thursday, a 5-4 victory over the Cubs, in which he surrendered three runs and 10 hits over six frames.

However, the overall picture does not shape up well for Weaver who has allowed 62 hits in only 32 innings this season. He is 4-2 with a 2.30 ERA in seven lifetime outings against the Pirates.

Paul Maholm (3-9, 5.00) looks to win his second straight after a stretch that saw him get the loss in five of his previous six starts. In a 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday, he allowed one run and three hits over seven innings. The lefthander will be his making his first-ever appearance against the Mariners.