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Indians, Mariners square off in game two of doubleheader

Sep 26, 2007 - 1:23 PM Cleveland (93-63) at Seattle (83-73), 12:00 am EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians take on the Seattle Mariners in game two of a double header on Wednesday, looking to continue their pursuit of the best record in the American League.

Entering Wednesday, the Indians were one-half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox (93-64) in the race for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (92-66) are also in the mix, two games back of Cleveland.

Jeremy Sowers (1-6, 6.93 ERA) has struggled in his second season with the Indians. The lefthander went 7-4 in his rookie campaign and his ERA has nearly doubled from 3.57 in 2006.

Sowers was optioned to the minors on June 10 and will be making his first start since June 9. The 24-year-old has not faced the Mariners this season, but pitched a complete-game shutout against Seattle on July 28 of 2006.

The Mariners will counter with veteran Jarrod Washburn (10-15, 4.36) on the hill for game two. The lefthander is coming off an outing in which he hurled seven scoreless innings against the Angels on Friday.

Washburn has not faced the Indians this season and is just 4-9 with a 4.84 ERA at Safeco field this year.

Cleveland may be without their starting catcher, Victor Martinez, who left Tuesday's game in the bottom of the eighth inning with a right knee contusion. His status is day-to-day.