Seattle @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2012 ) Seattle 8, Chi. White Sox 9
As far as drama goes, the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners will have a near-impossible task of matching their pulsating series-opening game Friday night. The White Sox managed to maintain their dominance over the Mariners, beating them for the 22nd time in 26 meetings, but they had to overcome blowing a five-run ninth-inning lead before winning on Paul Konerko's walk-off single in the bottom of the frame. The win extended Chicago's lead to 2 1/2 games atop the AL Central.
Seattle saw its eight-game winning streak end in heartbreaking fashion after rallying for six runs in the ninth, only to watch closer Tom Wilhelmsen absorb his third blown save in 22 chances. It was the 17th loss in the last 20 games at U.S. Cellular Field for the Mariners, who suffered only their second defeat in the last 12 games overall. Seattle's pitching had allowed only 13 runs during the eight-game winning streak.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), CSN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Blake Beavan (8-7, 5.00 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (5-2, 2.76)
Beavan is 5-1 in his last seven starts, but he has his shortest outing of that stretch last time out - giving up one run on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings to beat Minnesota. He did manage to keep the ball in the park after surrendering five homers in his previous three starts. Beavan lost to the White Sox on April 21, allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings.
Quintana labored through seven innings last time out at Kansas City, allowing nine hits and walking four over seven innings and taking a no-decision. He has gone 1-1 in his last four home starts despite surrendering only seven runs in that span. He is holding the opposition to a .224 batting average and owns a stellar 1.00 WHIP in seven appearances (six starts) at U.S. Cellular.
WALK-OFFS
1. White Sox DH Adam Dunn hit two more homers to boost his major league-leading total to 38 and put him within two of his fifth 40-homer season.
2. Despite Friday's loss, Seattle is tied with division rival Oakland for the AL's best record (25-14) since the All-Star break.
3. Chicago had not blown a ninth-inning lead of at least five runs since May 28, 1998.