White Sox 2 - 1 Mariners
Final/10
  for this game

Mariners vie to stay on track in matchup with White Sox

Aug 9, 2014 - 2:12 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Seattle Mariners, winners of four straight, will try to claim a series win over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon at Safeco Field.

The Mariners' hot streak continued on Friday night, as they rode a four-run fifth inning to a 4-1 triumph.

The crushing blow was delivered by Mike Zunino, who belted a three-run home run, his 18th of the season. Kendrys Morales added a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

The run support was plenty for Hisashi Iwakuma (10-6), who was outstanding over seven innings of work in allowing just five hits and one run.

Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth for his 32nd save.

Jose Quintana (6-8) pitched very well until the fifth and left after 5 2/3 innings having allowed seven hits and four runs (two earned).

Chicago's only run came via Dayan Viciedo's 16th homer of the season.

The White Sox will send Hector Noesi to the hill on Saturday. The Dominican Republic native is 6-8 on the season with a bloated 4.97 ERA.

Despite his struggles on the year, Noesi has pitched better in recent weeks with wins in three of his last four starts. He most recently had one of his best showings of the season in a win over Texas on Aug. 4, tossing seven innings of one-run ball while striking out six.

Noesi, a former Mariner, is 2-8 with a 5.40 ERA in 18 career appearances at Safeco Field.

Seattle will answer with James Paxton, who was activated from the 60-day disabled list earlier this month.

Paxton worked through 4 1/3 innings in his return to the mound on Aug. 2, allowing four hits, three walks and two earned runs in the no-decision.

"I felt really strong," Paxton said. "I had absolutely no problems with my arm. Everything felt great. So now it's just a matter of tightening things up, getting ahead in some counts and going deep in the ball game for our guys."

The 25-year-old southpaw has had a strong start to his career, as he's 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA this season and 5-0 with a 2.01 ERA in seven career starts.






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