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Mariners-Athletics Preview

May 25, 2009 - 3:49 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Seattle (20-24) at Oakland (15-25), 4:05 p.m. EDT

Seattle's Adrian Beltre has been feeling the pressure of trying to break out of his slump. His at-bats against the Oakland Athletics indicate that isn't likely to happen in his next series.

Beltre and the Mariners open a six-game road trip Monday, beginning with three games against the last-place Athletics.

Seattle (21-24) has won five of six against the Athletics (16-25) this season - sweeping them on the road in early April - and eight of nine dating to last season.

The Mariners' success has come without much production from Beltre, who led the team with 25 homers and was third with 77 RBIs last season. The third baseman, in the final season of a $64 million, five-year contract, is batting .215 this year after hitting .266 in 2008. He is 6 for 28 (.214) with one double and no RBIs against Oakland this season.

Beltre, however, has shown signs his bat could be coming around since being benched after an 0 for 23 skid earlier this month. He's 6 for 17 (.353) in the last four games, including a three-run homer in Sunday's 5-4 win over San Francisco.

The Mariners, who have split their last six games, continue to struggle offensively despite Sunday's victory. They have totaled only nine runs in their last five games and were limited to five hits Sunday while going 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

"It's tough because you know our team needs some offense," Beltre told the Mariners' official Web site. "When you're struggling and you're at home plate you want to be the guy who wants to help. When that happens, you put too much pressure on yourself. That kind of works against you. But it's tough to tell yourself to relax and make good contact. It's baseball; when you care for your team, that happens."

Oakland won for only the third time in 10 games Sunday, beating Arizona 6-2 to avoid a three-game sweep. Jason Giambi hit his 401st career home run and Josh Outman pitched 7 2-3 strong innings.

The victory came after the A's played four straight one-run games, including an 8-7 defeat in 11 innings Saturday.

"It's good to get one of these in our favor," said rookie catcher Landon Powell, who hit his first career homer. "I hope it gives us momentum."

The A's will hand the ball Monday to Brett Anderson (1-4, 5.54 ERA), another rookie who picked up his first win in his last start.

Oakland lost Anderson's first six starts this season, but he pitched well enough in his last outing, allowing four runs - two earned - and four hits over six innings of a 7-6 victory over Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old left-hander faced Seattle in his major league debut and yielded five runs in six innings of a 5-4 loss April 10.

Chris Jakubauskas (3-4, 6.10) came on in relief for the Mariners in that game and earned the victory.

Jakubauskas is looking to win his third straight start. He gave up two hits over six innings of a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The rookie right-hander has a 2.25 ERA in his last two starts after giving up a career-high nine runs over 4 1-3 innings against Minnesota on May 8.

Jakubauskas started against the A's on May 3, allowing four runs over 4 1-3 innings before leaving without a decision.