#30: Mariners Eye Second Straight Series Win

GAME: Orioles (16-11, 3rd, AL East, -2.5 GB) at Mariners (12-17, 3rd, AL West, -6.5 GB). GAME #: 30. SERIES: 3rd of 3 games. MEETING: 3rd (series tied 1-1). WHEN: Wednesday, 7:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners L 1; Orioles W 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

In case you missed Tuesday night’s Mariners-Orioles game, all you need to know is that reliever Blake Beavan began warming up in the Seattle bullpen — with one out in the first inning. Starter Brandon Maurer settled down — sort of — after giving up up four hits and throwing two wild pitches, but never got past the fourth inning in what became a 7-2 Seattle defeat.

The Mariners had a chance to win four in a row for the first time this season. Instead, they will try to start a new winning streak when they face the Orioles in the last of a three-game series Wednesday night. The Mariners will be looking to win their second straight series after not winning one until the end of April.

With Aaron Harang pitching, it won’t be easy — if his first three starts are any indication. Harang is 0-3 with an 11.37 ERA since he was acquired via trade during the second week of the season.

He allowed five earned runs in three innings against the Angels Friday. Wednesday, he’ll face Wei-Yin Chen, who had a dominant, eight-inning outing against Oakland in his last start. A closer look at the probables:

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLES

MARINERS: RHP Aaron Harang (0-3, 11.37, 1.97 WHIP)

The 34-year-old Harang, a San Diego native in his 12th major league season and first with the Mariners, will make his fourth start and first against the Orioles. Harang, who replaced Blake Beavan as Seattle’s No. 5 starter April 16, has lost all of his starts and has yet to pitch past five innings. He had his best outing in his Seattle debut, holding the Detroit Tigers to three earned runs. Since then, Harang has surrendered 13 earned runs on 14 hits.

• LAST START: April 26, lost to the L.A. Angels 6-3 at Safeco Field; 5 earned runs on 6 hits in 3.0 innings; 1 strikeout, 2 walks, 2 home runs, 58 pitches, 34 for strikes.

• LAST VS. ORIOLES: June 10, 2005, pitching for Cincinnati lost 4-3; 3 earned runs on 5 hits in 7.0 innings; 10 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 home run, 126 pitches, 90 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. ORIOLES: 0-1, 3.86 ERA in 1 start covering 7.0 innings; 10 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 home run, 1.00 WHIP.

• AT SAFECO FIELD: 1-3, 2.86 ERA in 5 starts covering 28.1 innings; 24 strikeouts, eight walks, 3 home runs, 0.98 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Chris Dickerson (0-for-2, .000), Steve Pearce (0-for-2, .000), Nate McLouth (3-for-27, .111).

• HATES TO FACE: Wilson Betemit (3-for-6, .500), J.J. Hardy (6-for-24, .250), Brian Roberts (1-for-4, .250).

• CURRENT ORIOLES VS. HARANG: 13-for-65, .200 BA, 19 strikeouts, 2 walks, 3 home runs, .224 on-base percentage.

ORIOLES: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-2, 2.53 ERA, 1.00 WHIP)

The 27-year-old Chen, a Taiwan native in his second major league season, both with Baltimore, will make his sixth start and first against the Mariners. Signed by the Orioles as an amateur free agent in 2012, Chen has won back-to-back starts after opening the season with a no-decision and consecutive losses. In his last two starts, covering 14.0 innings, he has allowed just five hits and one earned run.

• LAST START: April 26 at Oakland, won 3-0; allowed just two hits over 8.0 innings; 5 strikeouts, 2 walks, 106 pitches, 68 for strikes.

• LAST VS. MARINERS: Sept. 18, 2012, took a no-decision in Baltimore’s 4-2 victory; 2 runs on 6 hits in 5.1 innings; 2 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 home run, 103 pitches, 72 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 0-0, 2.84 ERA in 2 starts covering 12.2 innings; 11 strikeouts, 2 walks, 2 home runs, 0.78 WHIP.

• AT SAFECO FIELD: Same as career vs. Mariners.

• LOVES TO FACE: Jesus Montero (0-for-6, .000), Kyle Seager (0-for-6, .000), Dustin Ackley (1-for-5, .200).

• HATES TO FACE: Michael Morse (2-for-3, .667), Justin Smoak (2-for-5, .400).

• CURRENT MARINERS VS. CHEN: 7-for-39, .179 BA, 9 strikeouts, 1 walk, 0 home runs, .200 on-base percentage.

MARINERS STATS / NOTES

• CURRENT HOME STAND: Four vs. L.A. Angels (Thursday-Sunday), three vs. the Baltimore Orioles (Monday-Wednesday). Following a day off Thursday, the Mariners will play three at Toronto Friday-Sunday and two at Pittsburgh Monday Tuesday.
• Dustin Ackley extended his hitting streak to 10 games in Tuesday’s loss and is batting .417 over that span.
• Kyle Seager has registered a hit in 18 of his past 19 games and is hitting .361 over the stretch.
• Jason Bay has a five-game hitting streak during which he is batting .471.
• In the Mariners’ 12 victories, they are batting .315 (29-for-92) with runners in scoring position. In 17 losses, the Mariners are batting .115 (13-for-113) with RISP. The Mariners have no hits with RISP nine times in 29 games.

UPCOMING PROBABLES