A pair of right-handers square off in the Emerald City Monday, when the Seattle Mariners kick off a three-game series versus the Boston Red Sox at Safeco Field.
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez hopes to break back into the win column and is 0-1 in his last three appearances. Hernandez did not record a decision in last Wednesday's 2-1 loss at San Diego, as he struck out 10 and delivered seven innings of one-run ball.
Hernandez has given up only two runs over his previous three trips to the mound and is 4-2 in seven home starts. In 14 career starts against Boston, King Felix owns a 7-2 record to go along with a 3.00 ERA.
Boston counters with John Lackey and he is 8-4 with a 2.96 ERA. Lackey is 3-1 in his last four decisions and did not factor in the outcome of a 2-1 victory over Minnesota last Wednesday, as he fanned nine and walked one in nine innings of work, scattering just three hits.
The Red Sox defeated the Twins in 10 innings that day. Koji Uehara pitched the 10th for the win. Lackey is 3-2 in six road starts and 15-10 with a 3.61 ERA in 31 career starts against the Mariners.
Seattle recorded a three-game road sweep of the Kansas City Royals this weekend and has won six of its last eight games. In Sunday's second straight 2-1 triumph, Mike Zunino's leadoff home run in the seventh inning proved to be the difference and he was one of three players with two hits.
"Whenever you put at bats together or you're playing well it's one of those things that definitely carries over," Zunino said.
Brad Miller was 2-for-4 and has hit in seven straight games.
Roenis Elias picked up the win with 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball and Fernando Rodney nailed down his 21st save with a scoreless ninth inning. Rodney has 106 saves since the start of the 2012 campaign.
Seattle will also host Cleveland on this homestand and has a 17-20 home mark.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox salvaged the finale of a four-game series in Oakland with Sunday's 7-6 triumph in 10 innings. David Ortiz provided the big hit with a leadoff home run in the 10th inning and Uehara threw the final two innings for the win (3-1).
"I like to go out there and make things happen," said Ortiz, who has 448 career homers. "We've had a good game, had a good series and then we go back to struggles. So hopefully everything changes at some point."
Mike Napoli and David Ross both homered, while Jonny Gomes collected three hits and two RBI for Boston, which is just 6-5 in the last 11 games. Jon Lester started for the BoSox and gave up three runs -- two earned -- in 7 2/3 innings of work.
Boston starters have allowed three earned runs or less in 11 straight games.
The Red Sox, who have played nine straight games decided by two runs or less, will also visit the rival New York Yankees on this 10-game road trip and have a 15-22 mark away from Fenway this season. Boston has played an AL-high 29 one-run games this season, going 12-17 in that time.
Seattle and Boston are meeting for the first time this season. The Red Sox went 6-1 in the 2013 series with the Mariners.
[SportsNetwork.com]
