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Mariners turn to Bedard looking for rare win

May 17, 2008 - 2:44 PM San Diego (16-27) at Seattle (16-27), 10:10 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- After beginning the season with high expectations, the Seattle Mariners are looking up at every other team in the American League.

The Mariners look for a rare win Saturday when they send Erik Bedard to the mound against the San Diego Padres in an interleague matchup at Petco Park.

The Mariners have won just three out of 15 games in May and five of their last 22 overall.

Seattle expected to contend this season after adding Bedard and Carlos Silva to a team that won 88 games last season. But an offense that ranks 11th in the AL with a .248 batting average and last with a .306 on-base percentage has staggered the growth of the pitching staff.

Lately, Bedard (2-2, 3.48 ERA) has been anything but an ace. The lefthander lasted just two-plus innings Monday at Texas, allowing six runs and seven hits while not factoring in the decision. He has not earned a win since April 26 against Oakland.

The Padres counter with lefthander Randy Wolf (2-3, 5.16), who also has struggled. The veteran is 0-3 with an 8.55 ERA over his last four starts and owns an 8-6 record with a 3.70 ERA in 20 interleague games - 18 starts.

The Padres are even worst offensively, ranking last in the majors in runs scored and 28th in batting average.

However, San Diego took Friday's series opener, 6-4, as Brian Giles and Tadahito Iguchi combined for seven hits and four RBI.