The Mariners have seven games remaining before the All-Star break, including four against the Boston Red Sox and three against the Los Angeles Angels.
Tacoma native Jon Lester throws for the Red Sox Monday when Boston and Seattle begin a four-game series at Safeco Field. / Wiki Commons
GAME: Red Sox (54-36, 1st, AL East, 4.5 GA) at Mariners (39-49, 4th, AL West, -12.5 GB). GAME #: 89. SERIES: 1st of 4 games. MEETING: 1st (Red Sox won 2012 series 5-4). WHEN: Monday, 7:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Red Sox L 2. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network
An All-Star for the fourth time (every year since 2009 except his Cy Young year of 2010), Felix Hernandez ranks second in the American League with a 2.69 ERA (just behind teammate Hisashi Iwakuma’s 2.60), third in innings pitched (124.0), T3 in quality starts (13) and fourth in strikeouts (130). But he hasn’t won a game in three weeks despite two quality starts in three outings, all no-decisions.
When the Mariners, winners of four of their past six, begin a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox Monday night at Safeco Field, Hernandez faces the American League’s best team by record (54-36) and an offense that ranks first in runs (458), extra-base hits (318), on-base percentage (.350), slugging (.446) and on-base + slugging (.796), and second in hits (864) and batting average (.278).
The Mariners have, somewhat remarkably, hit more home runs than the Red Sox (104-91), but a major difference is that Boston delivers in the clutch while the Mariners do not. The Red Sox are hitting .279 with runners in scoring position while Seattle is at .222, last in the league. Seattle enters the series having gone 2-for-its-last-32 with RISP.
In Tacoma native Jon Lester, Hernandez faces a lefthander who seems to be righting himself. Lester lost four games and took two no-decisions in a six-start stretch from May 20-June 16, but has won two of his last three. In his last outing, against San Diego, Lester finished with a no-decision, but permitted one earned run in 7.0 innings.
The Red Sox feature three American League All-Stars, starter David Ortiz, the former Mariner farmhand, reserve Dustin Pedroia and pitcher Clay Buchholz, who will not throw against the Mariners in the series due to injury.
MONDAY’S PROBABLES
MARINERS: RHP Felix Hernandez (8-4, 2.69 ERA, 1.10 WHIP)
The 27-year-old Hernandez, in his ninth major league season, all with Seattle, will make his 19th start and first against the Red Sox. The Mariners ace took his fourth no-decision in his last five outings with 7.0 innings of two-run ball last Wednesday in Texas. He’s 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 12 career starts against the Red Sox. Hernandez, an All-Star for the fourth time, is seeking his first win since June 15 when he defeated Oakland 4-0.
RED SOX: LHP Jon Lester (8-4, 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP)
The 29-year-old Lester, a Tacoma (Bellarmine High) native in his eighth major league season, all with Boston, will make his 19th start and first against the Mariners. After more than a month of struggles, Lester finally appears to have turned the corner. The left-hander has gone seven innings in each of his last two starts with a 3.21 ERA.
MARINERS STATS / NOTES
UPCOMING PROBABLES
Date | Day | Opp. | |
---|---|---|---|
7/8 | Mon | vs. Bos | RHP Felix Hernandez (8-4) vs. LHP Jon Lester (8-4) |
7/9 | Tue | vs. Bos | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (8-4) vs. RHP Allen Webster (1-2) |
7/10 | Wed | vs. Bos | RHP Aaron Harang (4-7) vs. LHP Felix Doubront (5-3) |
7/11 | Thr | vs. Bos | RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-3) vs. RHP Ryan Dempster (5-8) |
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