Texas @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2011 ) Texas 4, Seattle 0

THE STORY: The torrid Texas Rangers look to extend their winning streak to 10 games when they play the struggling Seattle Mariners on Saturday. Texas has blanked the Mariners in each of the first two contests of the four-game series and has outscored its opponents 62-22 during a winning streak that is the franchise’s longest since winning 11 straight games in June 2010. Seattle has lost seven straight games and has scored just nine runs during the skid. The Mariners haven’t scored in their last 26 innings and have been shut out four times in their last 11 games. All-Star pitchers Felix Hernandez of Seattle and C.J. Wilson of Texas square off for the second time this season. Wilson defeated Hernandez in April.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), ROOT (Seattle).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH C.J. Wilson (9-3, 3.20) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-7, 3.19)

Wilson has won five straight decisions since losing to the Philadelphia Phillies on May 20. Wilson is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in two starts against Seattle this season. He matched his career-high with 12 strikeouts while giving up one earned run in a complete-game victory at Safeco Field on May 4 and also beat the Mariners in April when he gave up two earned runs in seven innings. Wilson beat Oakland in his last outing when he gave up four runs and five hits in seven innings. Ichiro Suzuki is batting just .222 in 36 career at-bats against Wilson.

Hernandez has gone three straight starts without winning despite giving up two or fewer runs in two of the outings. Hernandez received a no-decision in his last outing when he gave up two runs in seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He gave up four runs (two earned) and six hits in seven innings while losing to the Rangers on April 6. Hernandez is 10-13 with a 3.84 ERA in 29 career starts against Texas. Nelson Cruz is batting .282 with three homers in 39 career at-bats against Hernandez.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (43-50): The seven straight losses match Seattle’s longest skid of the season. The Mariners also lost seven consecutive games in April. Seattle is a season-worst 9 1/2 games out of first place. Slumping first baseman Justin Smoak was benched Friday. Smoak is just 5-for-59 since June 23. Seattle’s ERA is 5.57 over the last five games. David Aardsma, who hasn’t pitched this season, will undergo Tommy John elbow ligament surgery next week. Aardsma was the team’s closer the previous two seasons. All-Star Brandon League (23 saves) has more than adequately replaced him as closer.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (53-41): Texas is 6-2 against Seattle this season and is a season-best 12 games over .500. The Rangers are 10-2 in July. Texas didn’t homer in Friday’s 4-0 victory – the Rangers have hit 13 during the winning streak – and scored three runs on sacrifice flies. The Rangers have gone 29 innings without allowing a run and have posted three straight shutouts, including a blanking of Oakland in the final game before the All-Star break. Ian Kinsler had two hits on Friday to stretch his hitting streak to 11 games. Kinsler is batting .348 during the streak. Elvis Andrus was hitless in three at-bats after going 12-for-23 over the previous six contests.

FINAL PITCH: The Mariners are honoring their 116-win team from 2001 prior to Saturday’s game. The 116 victories are an American League record. Ichiro is the only current Seattle player that was on the historic club. Rangers reliever Arthur Rhodes was on the club and will also participate in the pregame festivities.