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Hernandez, Mariners hope to tame Rangers in series opener

Jul 28, 2008 - 1:28 PM Seattle (39-65) at Texas (54-51), 8:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners take on the heavy-hitting Texas Rangers in the opener of a four-game set on Monday.

Sitting in the cellar of the American League West Division, there haven't been too many bright spots for the Mariners this season. Their 22-year-old power ace has demonstrated enough power to marvel at, though.

Despite missing two starts in late-June and early-July with an ankle injury, Hernandez (7-6, 2.95 ERA) has held opponents to two runs or less in seven of his last 10 outings and ranks among the league leaders in ERA and strikeouts for the season.

Led by MVP candidates Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler, the Rangers offense has posted 585 runs this season - tops in the major leagues - and have overshadowed their dismal pitching to wade above the .500 mark.

Hamilton leads the majors in RBI (103) and is third in the AL with 24 homers. Kinsler has put together quite an impressive season, too. The All-Star second baseman is batting .330 with 14 homers, 61 RBI and 25 stolen bases.

Texas will send Scott Feldman (4-3, 4.80) to the mound against the AL's worst club with hopes the righthander can win his fourth straight decision.

Feldman, who has shuttled between Class AAA Frisco and the Rangers all season, is coming off one of his best outings of the season against the Washington Nationals. On Monday, he held them to one run and four hits in six sterling innings en route to a 6-1 victory.

Jose Vidro belted a two-run homer on Sunday for the Mariners, who are 2-7 since the All-Star break and won for the first time since beating Cleveland, 8-2, on July 18.

The Rangers are coming off a series win against the Oakland Athletics this weekend, when they scored 28 runs in three games.