Raul Ibanez homered twice and delivered an RBI-double as the Mariners raced to an 8-0 lead Friday night en route to an 8-3 win over the Angels.
Felix Hernandez will try for his 10th victory Saturday at Safeco Field against an Angels team that has a habit of beating him. / Drew Sellers, Sportspress Northwest
GAME: Angels (44-47, 3rd, AL West, -9.0 GB) at Mariners (41-52, 4th,, AL West, -13.0 GB). GAME #: 94. SERIES: 2nd of 3 games. MEETING: 12th (Angels lead 6-5). WHEN: Saturday, 7:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Angels L 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network
Felix Hernandez (9-4, 2.69) will make his final start before the All-Star break Saturday when the Mariners and L.A. Angels play the second of a three-game series. A victory would be Hernandez’s 10th and establish a personal, pre-All-Star break high. But Hernandez, who mows through most teams, has always had difficulty with the Halos.
He’s 1-0, 4.85 this season, but that’s deceiving. In his last start against L.A. June 20, he took a no-decision and was fortunate to get that after allowing six earned runs, including two homers, in 5.0 innings in a 10-9 Seattle setback.
For his nine-year career, covering 32 starts, Hernandez has beaten the Angels only seven times while losing 12. Only the Rangers have defeated him more often, 19 times. Hernandez has also surrendered 25 home runs to L.A. hitters, his most to any team.
Given that, Hernandez has to hope the Mariners continue their recent offensive onslaught. They have scored 38 runs in the past five games, including eight in an 8-3 win over the Angels Friday in a game in which the amazing Raul Ibanez went deep twice, his 23rd and 24th homers of the season. Ibanez’s 23rd, in the fourth inning, traveled an estimated 438 feet, according to Hit Tracker (previous longest 421 feet at Texas July 4).
Hernandez faces a tough foe Saturday in Jered Weaver, who spent nearly two months on the disabled list. Weaver is 12-7, 3.21 in his career against Seattle, but has been slightly less effective at Safeco Field at 5-6, 4.58.
SATURDAY’S PROBABLES
MARINERS: RHP Felix Hernandez (9-4, 2.69 ERA, 1.11 WHIP)
The 27-year-old Hernandez, in his ninth major league season, all with Seattle, will make his 20th start and third against the Angels, his nemesis team. Although Hernandez is 1-0 with a 4.85 ERA in two starts against L.A. this season, he was rocked for six earned runs on 12 hits in his last outing June 20 and is 7-12, 4.12 for his career.
ANGELS: RHP Jered Weaver (3-4, 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP)
The 30-year-old Weaver, a Northridge, CA., native in his eighth major league season, all with the Angels, will make his 11th start and first against the Mariners. On the disabled list for nearly two months, Weaver has won consecutive starts following a three-game losing streak. He pitched his best game in his last start when he blanked the Red Sox over 6.2 innings.
MARINERS STATS / NOTES
UPCOMING PROBABLES
Date | Day | Opp. | Probable Pitchers |
---|---|---|---|
7/13 | Sat | vs. LAA | RHP Felix Hernandez (9-4) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (3-4) |
7/14 | Sun | vs. LAA | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (7-4) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (2-10) |
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