#47: Stumbling Mariners Need To Go Home

GAME: Mariners (20-26, 3rd, AL West, -9.0 GB) at Angels (18-27, 4th, AL West, -10.5 GB). GAME #: 47. SERIES: 2nd of 2 games. MEETING: 6th (Mariners lead 3-2). WHEN: Wednesday, 4:05 p.m., Angels Stadium. STREAKS: Mariners L 5; Angels W 3. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

Prior to the bizarre developments last weekend in Cleveland, where the Mariners suffered three walk-off losses in a four game span, the last time the Mariners sustained a trio of walk-off defeats over four contests was May 10-13, 2011. In the May 10 game, at Baltimore, catcher Matt Wieters won it for the Orioles 7-6 with a 13th-inning single off then-closer Brandon League.

Two days later, in Cleveland, League suffered another walk-off loss when J.J. Hardy singled in the 12th, giving Baltimore a 2-1 victory. A day after that, the Indians slapped League with his third walk-off loss when Travis Hafner hit a two-run homer, giving Cleveland a 5-4 victory.

The three walk-off losses two years ago did not have a negative carry-over effect. Rather, the Mariners won 10 of their next 12.

How this year’s club will respond to the spate of walk-off losses last weekend remains to be seen, but things are not trending in the right direction. Monday night, Seattle suffered its worst lost since a 10-0 pounding by the Minnesota Twins in August, 2012, with a 12-0 setback to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Mariners — more specifically starter Aaron Harang — were never in it. Harang allowed three runs in the first, gave up five extra-base hits in the fourth and departed with his fifth loss and a season ERA of 8.58. The Mariners can’t live for long with the mess Harang is making.

The Mariners had a good start to the road trip, taking two of three from the Yankees in New York. But it’s been all downhill since.

To get back on track after a 2-6 start to a nine-game road trip, the Mariners will call upon rookie Brandon Maurer Wednesday. Maurer, who grew up in the shadow of Angels Stadium, will have lots of friends and family on hand to watch his major league debut in southern California. He will oppose C.J. Wilson, who has a good track record — 12-5, 3.93 — against Seattle.

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLES

MARINERS: RHP Brandon Maurer (2-5, 5.75 ERA, 1.47 WHIP)

The 22-year-old Maurer, a Newport Beach, CA., native in his first major league season, will make his ninth start and second against the Angels. Maurer has allowed three or fewer earned runs four times in eight starts, including his last two. Maurer pitched his best game April 25 against the Angels, holding them to no runs in a 6-0 victory at Safeco Field.

• LAST START: May 17 at Cleveland, took a no-decision in Seattle’s 6-3 loss; 3 earned runs on 5 hits in 6.0 innings; 6 strikeouts, 4 walks, 1 home run, 102 pitches, 56 for strikes.

• LAST VS. ANGELS: April 25, won 6-0; 0 earned runs on 7 hits in 6.1 innings; season-high 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 0 home runs, 93 pitches, 63 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. ANGELS: 1-0, 0.00 ERA in 1 start covering 6.1 innings; 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 0 home runs, 1.26 WHIP.

• AT ANGELS STADIUM: Never pitched.

• LOVES TO FACE: Brendan Harris (0-for-2, .000), Chris Iannetta (0-for-1, .000).

• HATES TO FACE: Josh Hamilton (1-for-3, .333), Howie Kendrick (1-for-3, .333), Albert Pujols (1-for-3, .333).

• CURRENT ANGELS VS. HARANG: 7-for-23, .304 BA, 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 0 home runs, .360 on-base percentage.

ANGELS: LHP C.J. Wilson (3-3, .372 ERA, 1.49 WHIP)

The 32-year-old Wilson, a Newport Beach, CA., native in his ninth major league season, and second with the Angels, will make his 10th start and second against the Mariners. Wilson opened the season by winning his first three decisions, but now has lost his last three, despite allowing just five earned runs in his past two, in neither of which did the Angels score a run.

• LAST START: May 17 vs. Chicago White Sox, lost 3-0; 2 earned runs on 6 hits over 7.0 innings; 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 home run, 113 pitches, 79 for strikes.

• LAST VS. MARINERS: April 26 at Seattle, won 6-3;  earned runs on 7 hits in 5.1 innings; 9 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 home runs, 110 pitches, 73 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 12-5, 3.93 ERA in 51 games, including 14 starts, covering 116.2 innings; 112 strikeouts, 52 walks, 10 home runs, 1.38 WHIP.

• AT ANGELS STADIUM: 8-10, 3.50 ERA in 35 games, including 24 starts, covering 154.1 innings; 124 strikeouts, 64 walks, 11 home runs, 1.29 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Michael Saunders (2-for-15, .133), Raul Ibanez (3-for-21 (.143), Dustin Ackley (3-for-15, .200).

• HATES TO FACE: Michael Morse (3-for-5, .600), Kelly Shoppach (3-for-7, .429), Jesus Montero (3-for-9, .333).

• CURRENT MARINERS VS. WILSON: 41-for-174, .236 BA, 49 strikeouts, 23 walks, 5 home runs, .322 on-base percentage.

MARINERS STATS / NOTES

• CURRENT ROAD TRIP: Three at New York (May 14-16), four at Cleveland (Friday-Monday), two at L.A. Angels (Tuesday-Wednesday). The Mariners return to Safeco Field Friday to begin a three-game series with the Texas Rangers.
• The five extra base hits allowed by Aaron Harang in the fourth inning Monday tied the most by any Mariners pitcher in an inning since 1984. Jamie Moyer was the last Seattle pitcher to surrender five extra-base hits in an inning (2006).
• The three walk-off losses in Cleveland were the first in a four-game span for the Mariners since May 10-13, 2011, when they lost a walk-off at Baltimore and two more at Cleveland. Mariners are the first team with three walk-off losses in a single series since the Dodgers vs. Arizona May 31-June 2, 2012. Overall, Seattle has 25 walk- off losses in Cleveland.
• Mariners are batting .190 (12-for-63) with runners in scoring position on the current road trip, including .138 (4-for-29) at Cleveland. Mariners rank last in the majors in RISP (.210, 71-for-337).

UPCOMING PROBABLES