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Mariners attempt to bounce back against Marlins

Apr 19, 2014 - 1:30 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Cuban-born Roenis Ellis makes the fourth start of his major-league career while searching for his second victory on Saturday afternoon when the Seattle Mariners visit Marlins Park for the second of three games with the Miami Marlins.

Elias has held opposing batters to a meager .196 batting average while throwing 16 2/3 innings through the initial three starts of his brief big- league stint, most recently surrendering a single run in 6 2/3 innings on Monday in a 7-1 defeat of the Texas Rangers.

"He came off of a boat," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "I don't think facing Prince Fielder is really going to scare him that much. He was fighting for his life trying to make it to this country. He's shown a lot of poise."

Miami goes with righty Henderson Alvarez, who's struggled mightily in three starts to begin his 2014.

The 24-year-old has allowed the opposition to hit at a .444 clip thus far, including 12 hits in six innings while he dropped a 4-3 verdict at Philadelphia in his last appearance on Sunday.

He's faced the Mariners three times and is 2-0 against them with a 4.00 ERA in those appearances, all of which came while he was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

On Friday, Giancarlo Stanton's grand slam in the ninth inning gave the Marlins a dramatic 8-4 win.

Three straight batters reached base against Yoervis Medina (0-1) to set the plate for Stanton, who cracked a 1-1 curveball over the wall in left-center for the win. Prior to the home run, Reed Johnson was ruled out on a sacrifice bunt play, but a replay determined that third baseman Kyle Seager had juggled the ball.

Stanton finished the game 3-for-3 with five RBI and two runs scored, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a solo home run for the Marlins, who have won two of three.

Stanton is batting .329 with six home runs and a league-leading 26 RBI. It was his second career walk-off grand slam, with the other coming on May 13, 2012 against the Mets.

Nathan Eovaldi pitched six innings and gave up three runs -- one earned -- on seven hits, while Steve Cishek (1-0) tossed a perfect ninth for the win. Brad Miller and Corey Hart each drove in a run for the Mariners, who have dropped their past four.

Chris Young was tagged for four runs on seven hits in just three innings of work.

The Mariners are making their first trip to Miami since 2008 and their first- ever visit to Marlins Park. Miami holds a 5-4 edge in the all-time series.