(My Sportsbook) - The
Seattle Mariners try for a rare winning streak when they play the third of four straight games against the
Oakland Athletics this evening at Safeco Field.
After dropping the opener of this set between AL West cellar-dwellers, Seattle rebounded on Friday. Jeff Clement knocked in three runs to help the Mariners snap a seven-game skid with a 7-5 win over the A's.
Seattle starter Ryan Feierabend was effective over his five-inning outing, surrendering five hits and one run while striking out five without issuing a walk. Roy Corcoran (4-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief.
Oakland's Gio Gonzalez also went five frames in his start, giving up four runs -- two earned -- on five hits and three walks while fanning seven. Jerry Blevins (1-3) allowed three runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss.
Rajai Davis was 3-for-3 with a solo home run for the A's, who have dropped three of four, while Daric Barton had two hits and an RBI.
A loss tonight would secure the A's their 12th straight series loss. Seattle, though, hasn't fared much better, winning just one series over that span.
Getting the call for the A's tonight will be lefty Dana Eveland, who has lost his last three decisions and hasn't pitched in a big league game since getting ripped by the Boston Red Sox back on August 2.
Eveland, who is 2-0 lifetime versus Seattle, was hammered by the Red Sox for nine runs and eight hits in just two innings of his last effort and demoted to Triple-A Sacramento shortly after that performance. He was 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his three starts in the minors.
Seattle will counter with Jarrod Washburn, who will try to avoid matching teammate Carlos Silva for the league lead in losses this evening. Washburn fell to 5-13 with his fourth straight defeat on Monday against the Chicago White Sox, as he allowed eight runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings to up his ERA to 4.95 on the year.
Washburn has faced the A's 33 times (32 starts) and is 8-14 with a 4.09 ERA in those outings.
Oakland has won six of 11 games versus Seattle this year, taking two of three in the Emerald City from April 25-27.
