Seattle @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2012 ) Seattle 5, San Diego 9

The San Diego Padres have found a team they can beat with regularity in the Seattle Mariners. The Padres seek a fifth straight victory over the Mariners this season when the teams meet in Saturday’s second contest of a three-game set. San Diego won the opener 9-5 as Chase Headley and pitcher Clayton Richard each drove in three runs. Felix Hernandez starts for the Mariners just 11 days after losing to the Padres in Seattle.

The Mariners are just 1-3 after four contests of a six-game road trip despite scoring 27 runs and smashing seven homers over the last three games. Seattle’s pitching was been horrendous on the excursion, allowing 39 runs, 52 hits and 10 homers despite keeping the Padres in the ballpark on Friday. San Diego has been the most inept offensive team in the majors – the Padres are last in runs scored (240) and homers (36) – but have tallied 21 times in the four wins over Seattle.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (4-5, 3.52 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jason Marquis (1-2, 1.86)

Hernandez pitched well in his last outing despite taking a no-decision against San Francisco. He gave up one run and six hits in seven innings in his best performance since beating the Texas Rangers on May 21. Hernandez is just 1-4 in his last seven starts. He is 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA in nine career starts against the Padres.

Marquis is making his fourth start since joining the Padres and his lone victory came against Seattle on June 13 when he tossed 6 1/3 shutout innings. He also pitched well against the Texas Rangers in his last start when he fanned 10 in seven innings, but took the loss after giving up two runs and five hits. Marquis is 2-1 with a 1.63 ERA in six career starts against the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mariners OF Franklin Gutierrez had the second four-hit game of his career and homered in Friday’s victory.

2. Headley is 2-for-15 with five strikeouts against Hernandez.

3. Seattle C Jesus Montero hasn’t played since striking out for times against Arizona on Tuesday but is expected to return to the lineup Saturday.