Joe Saunders, who beat Houston 3-0 April 8, goes for his fourth consecutive win Friday night when the Mariners begin a three-game set with the Astros.
The Mariners open the second half Friday night with the first of three games against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. / Wiki Commons
GAME: Mariners (43-52, 4th, AL West, -13.0 GB) at Astros (33-61, 5th, AL West, -22.5 GB). GAME #: 96. SERIES: 1st of 3 games. MEETING: 10th (Astros lead 5-4). WHEN: Friday, 5:10 p.m., Minute Maid Park. STREAKS: Mariners W 3; Astros L 2. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network
It figured that the Houston Astros would be a gimme putt on the Mariners’ 2013 schedule, but given that it’s the Mariners we’re talking about, it also figures that they would get the yips. Seattle played the last-place Astros in two series and lost five times, one of many reasons the Mariners open the second half 13.0 games behind Oakland in the AL West.
The first of Seattle’s remaining 67 games will be played Friday night at Minute Maid Park. The Mariners will enter with a season-high three-game winning streak and will have one of their hottest pitchers taking the ball.
After suffering back-to-back defeats June 19 and June 25, to fall to 5-8, 4.98 ERA, lefty Joe Saunders strung together three consecutive victories to even his record at 8-8 (4.24 ERA). In those three, Saunders has allowed just two earned runs while striking out 12 and walking three.
Saunders opposes Bud Norris, who lost to Seattle 4-0 June 11 and is coming off a shellacking (seven earned runs) administered by St. Louis.
The Mariners are coming off their most productive offensive stretch of the season. In two home series against Boston and the L.A. Angels, the Mariners scored 48 runs on 78 hits, including 11 home runs.
FRIDAY’S PROBABLES
MARINERS: LHP Joe Saunders (8-8, 4.24 ERA, 1.39 WHIP)
The 32-year-old Saunders, a Fairfax, VA., native in his ninth major league season and first with Seattle, will make his 20th start and third against the Astros. Saunders faced Houston twice early in the season, winning one and losing one while while recording a 6.35 ERA with seven strikeouts, three walks and a pair of home runs allowed. Saunders, with a win, would improve to 4-0 in July. Exclusive porn on superhot adult tube site. Watch free real HD porn on faponhd.com . Daily updated with new videos.
ASTROS: RHP Bud Norris (6-8, .363 ERA, 1.41 WHIP)
The 28-year-old Norris, a Greenbrae, CA., native in his fifth major league season, all with Houston, will make his 20th start and third against the Mariners. Norris defeated Seattle 3-2 April 23 and sustained a 4-0 loss at Safeco Field June 11. He has lost four of his past five decisions.
MARINERS STATS / NOTES
UPCOMING PROBABLES
Date | Day | Opp. | Probable Pitchers |
---|---|---|---|
7/19 | Fri | at Hou | LHP Joe Saunders (8-8) vs. RHP Bud Norris (6-8) |
7/20 | Sat | at Hou | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (8-4) vs. TBA |
7/21 | Sun | at Hou | RHP Felix Hernandez (10-4) vs. TBA |
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