Seattle @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2012 ) Seattle 4, Toronto 3

Kyle Seager has been a pleasant surprise for the Seattle Mariners and the third baseman seeks to follow up a three-hit outing in Wednesday’s second contest of a three-game set against the host Toronto Blue Jays. Seager fell a triple short of the cycle in Seattle’s 4-3 victory while increasing his team-leading outputs to 18 homers and 81 RBIs. Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero has lost 12 straight decisions and is making his first start in nine days.

Toronto had won four consecutive games before losing the series opener. The Blue Jays skipped Romero’s last turn in the rotation and are hoping the break will help him mentally. Close games have been a problem for Toronto, which is 11-22 in one-run games. Seattle has won 68 games, one more than last season’s total. The Mariners racked up 14 hits Tuesday, a good sign after scoring just 18 runs over their previous nine games.

TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), Rogers Sports Net (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Kevin Millwood (5-12, 4.27 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Ricky Romero (8-13, 5.85)

Millwood traditionally struggles with Toronto and is just 2-8 with a 4.83 ERA in 13 career starts against the Blue Jays. He did pitch well in a losing effort against Toronto on April 28 when he gave up three runs (one earned) and seven hits in seven innings. Millwood defeated the Boston Red Sox in his last outing when he allowed one run and four hits in six innings.

Romero has fallen on tough times after beginning the season with an 8-1 mark. He was torched by the Tampa Bay Rays in his last outing, failing to retire any of the seven hitters he faced in the second inning before being removed. He was charged with seven runs and eight hits. Romero is 0-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two starts against Seattle this season and has a 1-2 mark and 3.64 ERA in seven career starts against the Mariners.

WALK-OFFS

1. Seattle CF Franklin Gutierrez dropped a fly ball in Tuesday’s victory, snapping his American League record of 846 consecutive outfield chances without an error.

2. Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday to drop his career average against Seattle to .150 in 40 at-bats.

3. Mariners 1B Justin Smoak is just 1-for-12 against Romero.