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Angels-Mariners Preview

May 18, 2009 - 3:47 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Los Angeles (18-17) at Seattle (17-20), 10:10 p.m. EDT

The season debut of Los Angeles Angels ace John Lackey lasted just two pitches. There's a very strong chance he'll go a lot longer with his second start coming against the Seattle Mariners.

Lackey looks to put his bizarre first outing behind him and continue his recent dominance of the Mariners as the AL West rivals open a four-game series Monday night at Safeco Field.

Lackey opened the season on the disabled list with a right forearm strain before being activated to start Saturday at Texas. After his first pitch sailed behind Ian Kinsler's head and the next one hit the Rangers' leadoff batter in the ribs, home plate umpire Bob Davidson immediately ejected the right-hander.

Lackey, an All-Star and the third-place finisher in AL Cy Young Award voting in 2007, said he was just rusty.

"I haven't pitched in six weeks. I was obviously trying to come in on him but there was no intention to hit him or to come in behind him," said Lackey, who went 12-5 with a 3.75 ERA in 24 starts last year. "It was definitely surprising."

The Angels (18-18) can likely expect a longer outing from Lackey against the Mariners (18-20). Lackey's won five straight starts against Seattle with two shutouts and a 1.21 ERA in that stretch. Four of those five starts have been at Safeco Field, where he's pitched 27 consecutive scoreless innings.

"I'll just take it as a normal start," Lackey told the Angels' official Web site Sunday. "I'm absolutely excited to get back out there. ... I know it's my job, but it's fun, too."

The Angels hope Lackey's return can help them rebound after getting swept in a three-game series against the division-leading Rangers over the weekend. Los Angeles managed only five hits in a 3-0 loss in Sunday's finale, the first time it's been shut out since a 9-0 defeat against Minnesota on Aug. 22.

While the Rangers considered it a statement series, the Angels aren't overly concerned with their season high-tying three-game skid.

"Regardless of what anybody said, you're here to play the game," second baseman Howard Kendrick said. "We're just going to go out and play our style of baseball. ... It's going to be a tough division this year, and we're looking forward to competing with those guys."

Seattle looked like it could be a contender as well during its 12-6 start, but the Mariners are just 6-14 since then. They haven't won back-to-back games since a three-game winning streak April 23-25.

The Mariners hope a series win against Boston can help them get back on track. Franklin Gutierrez hit a walkoff single with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday as Seattle finished the series with a 3-2 victory.

"It's about a belief system," first-year manager Don Wakamatsu said. "If we can beat a team like Boston, that's a stepping stone for where we want to go."

Wakamatsu hopes Jarrod Washburn (3-2, 3.11) can help his club take another step Monday. Washburn spent his first eight seasons in the majors with the Angels before signing with the Mariners before the 2006 season. He's 5-6 with a 4.62 ERA in 12 starts against his former club.

The left-hander went 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his first three starts of 2009 before going 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA over his last four - all Seattle losses. He was reached for four runs in six innings of a 6-5, 11-inning loss at Texas on Wednesday.

Seattle went 5-14 against Los Angeles in 2008 but has won four of the clubs' first six meetings this year.