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Mariners close miserable year with series against Athletics

Sep 26, 2008 - 10:27 AM Oakland (75-83) at Seattle (58-101), 10:10pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Seattle Mariners entered the 2008 season with hopes of contending for an American League West title and earning their first playoff berth since 2001. Six months later, they're still competing - but on the opposite end of the spectrum.

The Mariners could seal the first overall selection in the 2009 First Year Player Draft as they host the Oakland Athletics on Friday.

Having lost 14 of their last 15, the Mariners have become the favorites to snag the top pick, with the National League East cellar-dwelling Washington Nationals (59-99) their only competition.

Taking the mound for Seattle is one of its brightest prospects. Righthander Brandon Morrow (2-4, 2.72 ERA) will make his fifth start since moving over from the bullpen.

If he can perform close to the level he's shown so far, the Mariners may be able to snap out of their doldrums. In his first major league start on September 5, Morrow nearly no-hit the New York Yankees, eventually giving up one run and one hit in 7 2/3 innings while striking out eight.

In his last outing, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Oakland before finally surrendering a one-out double to Carlos Gonzalez as the A's rallied to win, 5-3. Morrow did not factor in the decision and has gone three starts without a win.

His opponent will be Athletics righthander Sean Gallagher (2-2, 5.02), who was acquired in the July trade that sent Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs. After a disastrous August 19 outing that saw him give up 10 runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings to the Minnesota Twins, Gallagher has settled down and come into his own this month. Over his last three starts, he is 1-0 with a 2.04 ERA.