#73: Mariners Pull One Out, But Now Face Wilson

GAME: Mariners (32-40, 3rd, AL West, -10.5 GB) at Angels (31-40, 4th, AL West, -11.0 GB). GAME #: 73. SERIES: 3rd of 4 games. MEETING: 9th (series tied 4-4). WHEN: Wednesday, 7:05 p.m., Angels Stadium. STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Angels L 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

The Mariners, as per custom, are not going anywhere this season, but Jeremy Bonderman is quickly working his way into one of the more unlikely and positive stories of the 2013 season. He didn’t factor in Seattle’s 10-inning, 3-2 win — and an unlikely one at that —  but he pitched six innings of six-hit ball Tuesday night and once again gave the Mariners a chance to win.

The 30-year-old Bonderman, who missed the previous two seasons due to ailment and Tommy John surgery, is 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA over 20 innings covering his last three starts. He left with a 2-1 lead and might have gotten the win, Seattle’s first in Anaheim this season after getting outscored 30-4 in three previous contests, if former closer Tom Wilhelmsen hadn’t given up a bomb in the eighth to Albert Pujols, a shot that sent the game into extra innings.

Kendrys Morales’ game-winning, RBI single sets up the Mariners to advance in the season series, which Seattle hasn’t won since 2003. Joe Saunders, a former Angel, will face his old team and will be looking for his second straight road win after starting out 0-4, 9.00 away from Safeco.

Saunders will oppose C.J. Wilson, who always represents trouble for the Mariners. Wilson beat Seattle twice this year and is 13-5 against the Mariners in his career. A closer look:

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLES

MARINERS: LHP Joe Saunders (5-6, 4.80 ERA, 1.43 WHIP)

The 32-year-old Saunders, a Fairfax, VA., native in his ninth major league season and first with Seattle, will make his 15th start and first against the Angels, the team he broke in with in 2005. Saunders pitched for the Angels from 2005-10, winning a career-high 17 games in 2008. Saunders has not permitted more than three earned runs in any of his last four starts and, more important, finally broke through with his first road victory in his last outing.

• LAST START: June 14 at Oakland, won 3-2; 1 earned run on 5 hits in 7.0 innings; 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 home runs, 98 pitches, 57 for strikes.

• LAST VS. ANGELS: June 16, 2012, pitching for Arizona lost 2-0; 2 earned runs on 8 hits in 6.0 innings; 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 home run, 115 pitches, 65 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. ANGELS: 0-1, 3.00 ERA in 1 start covering 6.0 innings; 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 home run, 1.66 WHIP.

• AT ANGELS STADIUM: 25-10, 4.60 ERA in 64 starts covering 379.2 innings; 214 strikeouts, 113 walks, 53 home runs, 1.38 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Albert Pujols (0-for-5), Mike Trout (0-for-4, .000), Brendan Harris (0-for-3).

• HATES TO FACE: Howie Kendrick (2-for-3, .667), Josh Hamilton (4-for-10, .400), Alberto Callaspo (3-for-9, .333).

• CURRENT ANGELS VS. SAUNDERS: 13-for-46, .283 BA, 7 strikeouts, 5 walks, 2 home runs, .346 on-base percentage.

ANGELS: LHP C.J. Wilson (5-5, 3.90 ERA, 1.42 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 15th start and third against the Mariners. Wilson has already thumped Seattle twice this year, winning 6-3 April 26 and coming back with a 7-1 win May 22. However, he’s lost two of his past three outings. Wilson, drafted by the Texas Rangers, made his MLB debut in 2005.

• LAST START: June 14, defeated the Yankees 5-2; 2 earned runs on 5 hits in 7.0 innings; 4 strikeouts, 3 walks, 0 home runs, 113 pitches, 71 for strikes.

• LAST VS. MARINERS: May 22, defeated Seattle 7-1 at Angels Stadium; 1 earned run on 6 hits in 8.0 innings; 10 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 home runs, 109 pitches, 75 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 13-5, 3.75 ERA in 52 games, including 15 starts, covering 124.2 innings; 122 strikeouts, 54 walks, 10 home runs, 1.35 WHIP.

• AT ANGELS STADIUM: 10-11, 3.36 ERA in 38 games, including 27 starts, covering 176.2 innings; 147 strikeouts, 69 walks, 13 home runs, 1.25 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Jason Bay (1-for-9, .111), Raul Ibanez (3-for-21, .143), Michael Saunders (3-for-19, .158).

• HATES TO FACE: Michael Morse (4-for-8, .500), Kendrys Morales (6-for-14, .429), Brendan Ryan (6-for-20, .300).

• CURRENT MARINERS VS. WILSON: 42-for-183, .230 BA, 52 strikeouts, 21 walks, 4 home runs, .303 on-base percentage.

MARINERS STATS / NOTES

• CURRENT ROAD TRIP: Three at Oakland (Friday-Sunday), four at L.A. Angels (Monday-Thursday). The Mariners return to Safeco Field for a three-game series with the Athletics Friday. Seattle’s next home stand also features visits by the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday-Wednesday and Chicago Cubs (June 28-30).
• Yoervis Medina’s 10th-inning save Tuesday was the first of his major league career.
• Until Albert Pujols tied the game 2-2 with a home run off former closer Tom Wilhelmsen, right-handed batters were hitting just 5-for-48 against him. Wilhelmsen had not allowed a home run this season in 29.1 innings.
• The Mariners, who received back-to-back home runs from Raul Ibanez and Justin Smoak, have hit 49 home runs on the road compared to 29 at Safeco Field.
• The Mariners recalled Smoak just hours before the game from AAA Tacoma and optioned INF Alex Liddi. Smoak had been rehabbing a right oblique strain.
• Seattle pitchers induced Josh Hamilton to ground into three double plays (in addition to fanning him twice). It was only the second time in 806 career games that Hamilton had banged into a pair.

UPCOMING PROBABLES