During the seven-game winning streak, the Mariners have outscored opponents 46-21 with their starting pitchers recording a 1.71 ERA..
Michael Saunders and the Mariners take on the Cleveland Indians Tuesday in the second of three games at Safeco Field./ Drew McKenzie, Sportpress Northwest
GAME: Indians (52-47, 2nd, AL Central, -2.5-0 GB) at Mariners (47-52, 3rd, AL West, -11.0 GB). GAME #: 100. SERIES: 2nd of 3 games. MEETING: 6th (Indians lead 4-1). WHEN: Tuesday, 7:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners W 7; Indians L 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network
It has been a long time — 2009, in fact — since the Mariners last produced a decent record (15-10) in the month of July. Back then, with Russell Branyan banging (31 homers), Ichiro at the apex of his slap-hitting prowess and Felix Hernandez en route to a career-high 19 wins, the Mariners won 15 times in 31 days. The surge helped Seattle to a 85-77 record, its last winning season.
The Mariners (12-5) are enjoying their best July since, a better one than July 2009. Through their first 16 games this month, the Mariners, jumping over the Angels into third place in the AL West, led the majors in runs scored (102), slugging percentage (.487), OPS (.844), home runs (27), extra-base hits (61) and runs per game (6.38).
Seattle didn’t do a whole lot to add to those numbers Monday night at Safeco Field, squeaking out a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Indians behind solo homers from Kendrys Morales and Mike Zunino and seven effective innings from Aaron Harang.
But the Mariners extended their winning streak to seven games, longest in the majors, and moved to within five games of .500 for the first time since May 20.
To match the longest winning streak since late August 2012, the Mariners will entrust Erasmo Ramirez with the ball Tuesday in a milestone marker on the calendar — Game #100. Ramirez, shelled in his first outing nearly two weeks ago, will oppose Zach McAllister, just coming off the disabled list. A closer look:
TUESDAY’S PROBABLES
MARINERS: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (0-0, 13.50 ERA, 2.14 WHIP)
The 23-year-old Ramirez, a Nicaragua native in his second major league season, both with Seattle, will make his second start and first against Cleveland. Ramirez missed the first three months with an elbow issue and, in his return to the majors, lasted just 4.2 frames with a no-decision against Boston. Over the All-Star break, Ramirez pitched a game at A Everett in order to maintain his routine.
INDIANS: RHP Zach McAllister (4-5, 3.43 ERA,
The 25-year-old McAllister, a Chillicothe, IL., native in his third major league season, all with Cleveland, will make his 12th start and second against the Mariners. This is McAllister’s first outing since June 2, as a right middle finger sprain kept him on the DL for more than a month. Thursday, McAllister successfully utilized all his pitches in a quality start for AAA Columbus.
MARINERS STATS / NOTES
UPCOMING PROBABLES
Date | Day | Opp. | Probable Pitchers |
---|---|---|---|
7/23 | Tue | vs. Clev | RHP Erasmo Ramirez (0-0) vs. RHP Zach McAllister (4-5) |
7/24 | Wed | vs. Clev | LHP Joe Saunders (9-8) vs. LHP Scott Kazmir (5-4) |
7/25 | Thr | vs. Minn | RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (9-4) vs. RHP Kevin Correia (7-6) |
7/26 | Fri | vs. Minn | RHP Felix Hernandez (11-4) vs. LHP Scott Diamond (5-9) |
7/27 | Sat | vs. Minn | RHP Aaron Harang (5-8) vs. RHP Samuel Deduno (5-4) |
7/28 | Sun | vs. Minn | RHP Erasmo Ramirez (0-0) vs. RHP Kyle Gibson (2-2) |
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