San Diego @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( May 22, 2011 ) Seattle 6, San Diego 1
THE STORY: The San Diego Padres are on a hot streak as they open a three-game series against the host Seattle Mariners on Friday. The Padres notched their first three-game sweep of the season earlier in the week against the Kansas City Royals and have won seven of eight games. San Diego has also moved out of the National League West cellar by one game over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Seattle just suffered a home sweep against the Atlanta Braves and has lost eight of its last 11 games. The Mariners swept the Padres in San Diego in May. Both teams will wear their 1984 uniforms in Friday’s opening contest.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Ch4, ROOT.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Dustin Moseley (2-7, 3.03 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Jason Vargas (5-5, 3.88 ERA)
Moseley has pitched much better than his record as the Padres have been blanked in four of his starts and scored just one run on three other occasions. All told, he has a 2.61 ERA over his last seven starts but has just one victory to show for it. Moseley lost to Atlanta in his last outing when he gave up two earned runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings. He is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven career appearances - two starts - against Seattle. Jack Cust is 6-for-11 in his career against Moseley.
Vargas went 2-2 in five June starts with both wins being complete-game shutouts. He lost to the Florida Marlins in his last outing when he gave up four runs and eight hits in six hits. Three of the runs and four of the hits were in the first inning. Vargas walked two or fewer batters in each of his five outings in June. Vargas is 1-1 with a 3.63 ERA in three career starts against San Diego.
ABOUT THE MARINERS (39-42): Seattle is three games below .500 for the first time since May 21. The Mariners continue to struggle to score runs and have plated three or fewer in 17 of their last 24 games. Left-handed hitting rookie second baseman Dustin Ackley added on to his impressive start by homering off Atlanta southpaw Jonny Venters on Wednesday. The homer was the first extra-base hit by a lefty against Venters this season. Ackley is 6-for-8 against left-handers in 12 games and hitting .300 overall since being promoted from the minors. Seattle catcher Miguel Olivo (leg) is day to day. Seattle was the only major-league team to use just three starting pitchers over the first three months, but that will change with Erik Bedard (knee) on the disabled list.
ABOUT THE PADRES (37-45): San Diego begins a 10-game road trip that includes four games in San Francisco and three in Los Angeles. The Padres have won four straight contests overall and closer Heath Bell saved each of them. Bell has 23 saves and has converted 57 of his last 58 opportunities. Third baseman Chase Headley batted .348 in June and is hitting .299 overall. Left fielder Ryan Ludwick has a team-best 51 RBIs with no other San Diego player having even 30. Headley is second on the squad with 29. Center fielder Cameron Maybin is batting .393 over his last eight games. Catcher Nick Hundley (elbow) has missed four straight games and should return during the series.
FINAL PITCH: “We had such a slow April. It was only a matter of time before we started playing. Right now, everyone here is pitching in.” – Ludwick on San Diego’s recent hot streak.