• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

MLB-worst Mariners go for back-to-back wins

Jun 18, 2008 - 2:06 PM Florida (38-33) at Seattle (25-46) 10:10 p.m. EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners will be attempting to earn back-to-back wins for the first time this month when they host the Florida Marlins in the finale of a three-game interleague series Wednesday.

The Mariners jumped out to a 5-1 lead on Tuesday as Jose Lopez drove in a pair of runs and Felix Hernandez struck out nine - including striking out the side on nine pitches in the fourth. The Marlins battled back, but the Seattle held on to earn a 5-4 victory.

Brandon Morrow struck out two in a perfect ninth to earn his second save of the season and has fanned 12 of the last 22 batters he has faced. The righthander, who is taking over as closer while J.J. Putz is on the disabled list, has allowed one run over his last 16 1/3 innings.

Morrow and Hernandez have been two of the few bright spots for the Mariners this season as the team toils in last place in the American League West. Picked by many to contend for a playoff spot this season, Seattle fired general manager Bill Bavasi on Monday and owns the worst record in the majors.

Seattle will turn to knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (1-2, 4.71 ERA) in search of a rubber-game win Wednesday. The righthander is coming off his worst start of the season Friday in which he allowed seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings to suffer a loss against the Washington Nationals.

Dickey, who has bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen this season, is 0-2 with a 14.08 ERA in two starts.

Florida will counter with rookie Ryan Tucker (1-1, 5.40). One of a promising quartet of pitchers who began this year at Class AA Carolina including Chris Volstad, Brett Sinkbeil and Aaron Thompson, Tucker is the first to reach the major leagues.

The 21-year-old righthander gave up just one run in five innings to earn a win in his first start but was knocked around Friday at Tampa Bay, surrendering five runs in five frames to absorb the loss.