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Betancourt, Mariners continue playoff push

Aug 5, 2007 - 1:29 PM Boston (67-43) at Seattle (60-48) 4:05 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) - Yuniesky Betancourt hopes his recent success will continue and propel the Seattle Mariners to a much-needed victory when they host the Boston Red Sox in the finale of a three-game series Sunday.

Despite Betancourt's homer, the Red Sox managed to end a nine-game losing streak at Safeco Field with Saturday's 4-3 triumph over the Mariners.

Betancourt is 7-for-14 with two blasts and seven RBI over his previous three contests. The 25-year-old Cuban is hitting .289 with seven home runs and 42 RBI on the season.

In order to continue his stellar play, he will have to figure out one of the American League's best pitchers in Josh Beckett (13-5, 3.41 ERA), who has lost three of his last four starts.

The 27-year-old righthander surrendered five runs and nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts over eight frames in Monday's 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The Mariners, who are two games behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the West and one-half game back of the Detroit Tigers in the wild card race, counter with Miguel Batista (11-7, 4.23).

The 36-year-old Batista is coming off his best performance of the season, surrendering four hits over seven innings in a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday.