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Gabbard faces Mariners for first time since brawl

May 13, 2008 - 1:06 PM Seattle (15-25) at Texas (19-21) 8:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - The last time Kason Gabbard started against the Seattle Mariners he was at the center of a benches-clearing brawl that included a helmet being thrown at his back.

Gabbard and the Texas Rangers will try to keep the fireworks to a minimum Tuesday when they host the Mariners.

When the teams met last Wednesday, Richie Sexson took exception to a head-high pitch from Gabbard and charged the mound, hurling his helmet at the helpless lefthander before tackling him on the mound.

Rangers catcher Gerald Laird quickly joined the fray as the benches and bullpens cleared. When the field was finally cleared, Gabbard (1-0, 1.85 ERA) lasted just two more batters before coming out of the game.

Sexson will not be around for this matchup after being hit with a five-game suspension from Major League Baseball.

Felix Hernandez (2-3, 3.42), who started last Wednesday and will take the mound again Tuesday, ignited the bad feelings in that game by drilling Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler with a pitch. He went on to allow four runs and six hits in five innings and suffered the loss.

After beginning the season 2-0 with a 1.67 ERA in his first five starts, Hernandez has taken a loss in each of his last three starts while combining to allow 14 runs in 17 2/3 innings.

The Rangers took the series opener in a wild contest on Monday, falling behind 5-0 before taking a 12-8 lead into the ninth inning. After Seattle tied it up on Kenji Johjima's first homer of the season in the ninth, Ramon Vazquez hit a walk-off solo blast in the 10th to seal a 13-12 win.