Seattle @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 18, 2012 ) Seattle 1, Arizona 7
The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to keep pouring it on offensively Tuesday when they host the Seattle Mariners in the middle contest of their three-game interleague series. Arizona has gone 3-4 over its last seven games, scoring a total of 23 runs in its three victories and just one in the four losses. The Diamondbacks rebounded from a pair of shutout losses to the Los Angeles Angels with a convincing 7-1 triumph over the Mariners in the series opener on Monday.
Aaron Hill was the offensive star as he became the fifth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle. Hill completed his entry into the club's record book by hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning that capped the scoring. It was the second cycle recorded in the major leagues this season and first by a Diamondback since Kelly Johnson accomplished the feat on July 23, 2010 against San Francisco. The loss snapped Seattle's modest two-game winning streak, which came after the club had dropped six in a row.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, Root Sports (Seattle), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Erasmo Ramirez (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Daniel Hudson (3-1, 5.67 ERA)
Ramirez will be making his second straight start following seven relief appearances this season. The 22-year-old rookie did not fare well in his first major-league start on Thursday, surrendering six runs - five earned - and eight hits over five innings in a loss to San Diego. Ramirez walked one and struck out three while throwing 64 of 93 pitches for strikes.
Hudson is seeking his third consecutive victory. The 25-year-old allowed three runs and five hits over seven innings in a triumph at Texas on Thursday, striking out seven without a walk. Hudson, who is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in four home starts, won his only career outing against Seattle on July 19, 2010 while with the Chicago White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Hill joined Luis Gonzalez, Greg Colbrunn, Stephen Drew and Johnson as Diamondbacks who have hit for the cycle.
2. Arizona tied a franchise record Monday by lifting four sacrifice flies. It initially accomplished the feat on May 18, 2003 against Pittsburgh.
3. The next hit by Seattle OF Ichiro Suzuki, who was given the night off Monday, will be the 2,500th of his career.