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Jimenez makes first start as Mariners face Rangers

Sep 10, 2008 - 10:09 AM Texas (70-74) AT Seattle (56-86) 4:40 p.m. EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners are hoping history can repeat itself.

The Mariners will give lefthanded reliever Cesar Jimenez his first career start as they take on the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. That's a familiar dynamic for the Mariners, whose righthanded phenom Brandon Morrow made his starting debut four days ago and no-hit the New York Yankees for 7 2/3 innings in a 3-1 triumph.

While Seattle likely doesn't expect the same result from Jimenez (0-2, 3.70 ERA), the team hopes he can help change its fortunes against the Rangers, against whom it has dropped three straight games. Mariner ace Felix Hernandez was shelled Tuesday, giving up six runs in 4 1/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.

Jimenez has been moderately effective in his role as a middle and setup reliever and has faced the Rangers before, making appearances in three consecutive games from July 28-30. He gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings combined.

His counterpart, Kevin Millwood (9-8, 5.01) has 340 career starts to his credit, including 17 against the Mariners. He hasn't fared well, giving up 132 hits - his third-most for any opponent - in 103 2/3 innings, going 7-8 with a 4.51 ERA.

After struggling for most of the last two seasons, Millwood put together three outstanding starts in a row in August before faltering in his first September start, giving up six runs and eight hits over six innings in an 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox.