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Mariners-Athletics Preview

May 26, 2009 - 3:38 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Seattle (21-24) at Oakland (16-25), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Adam Kennedy has been with the Oakland Athletics for less than a month, but he's been by far the team's most productive hitter during that brief time.

The veteran second baseman looks to continue his strong start while trying to help the A's to a season-high third straight victory Tuesday night in the continuation of a three-game home set with the Seattle Mariners.

Kennedy had four hits and drove in two runs in Oakland's 6-1 victory Monday. The win marked the seventh time the last-place A's (17-25) have won back-to-back games, and improved their record to 2-5 against the Mariners this season.

While Oakland is last in the majors in slugging (.358), and ranks near the bottom in batting average (.244) and runs (189), Kennedy has been one of the few bright spots for the struggling lineup.

The leadoff hitter is batting .441 (26 for 59) with two homers and 13 RBIs in 15 games since the A's acquired him in a trade with Tampa Bay on May 8. He is 9 for 13 with six RBIs in his last three contests.

"I'm trying to fit in, have good at-bats, play hard, and that's about it," said Kennedy, the MVP of the 2002 AL championship series for the Angels, who played for St. Louis last season and was signed to a minor league contract by the Rays in February. "I just try to do what I can do my best and look for ways to get on base."

Travis Buck added a homer Monday for Oakland, which beat Seattle (21-25) for the first time this season at home after being swept in a three-game set there April 10-12.

The Mariners have alternated wins and losses in their last six contests.

Seattle's Jarrod Washburn (3-3, 3.86 ERA) allowed one run and struck out six in seven innings, but didn't factor in the decision of a 3-2 win over the A's on May 2.

He is expected to be ready for this contest after being scratched from his scheduled start Saturday because of discomfort behind his left knee. The Mariners' coaching staff, though, is not sure how long he will be able to last.

"It's one of those things where we won't know for sure until he's out there on the mound," manager Don Wakamatsu told the Mariners' official Web site.

Washburn, who allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings of a 10-6 loss to the Angels on May 18, is 0-3 with a 5.34 ERA in his last five starts since winning this first three. He is 8-15 with a 4.01 ERA in 34 starts against Oakland.

The Mariners will be without catcher Kenji Johjima for at least two weeks after he broke his left big toe while defending a play at the plate Monday.

Ichiro Suzuki, however, will be in Seattle's lineup looking to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. Suzuki had four hits Monday and is batting .381 (32 for 84) in his last 19 games.

He is 9 for 21 (.429) against the A's this season, and 2 for 6 with an RBI against Oakland's Dallas Braden.

Looking to avoid a fourth straight losing decision, Braden (3-5, 3.67) is 0-1 with an 8.64 ERA in two starts against the Mariners, but hasn't faced them as a starter since 2007.

The left-hander allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings, but didn't factor in the decision of a 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.