Boston @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2011 ) Boston 6, Seattle 4

THE STORY: Persistence has never been a problem for Tim Wakefield. The veteran of 19 major league seasons makes his fourth attempt for his 200th career win Sunday when the Boston Red Sox take on the Seattle Mariners in the rubber game of their three-game series at Safeco Field. Wakefield is looking to become the 89th pitcher in the modern era and 108th of all time to reach the milestone. Boston has lost two of its last three road games but still owns the American League's best record away from home at 36-23. Seattle ended its five-game losing streak against the Red Sox with Saturday's 5-4 triumph. Mike Carp enters with a 13-game hitting streak.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), Root Sports (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Tim Wakefield (6-4, 4.92 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Charlie Furbush (2-4, 4.46 ERA)

Wakefield is 0-1 over his last three starts despite allowing three earned runs in each outing. The 45-year old knuckleballer surrendered seven runs in 6 1/3 innings against Seattle on July 24 but came away with his 199th career victory. The win was only Wakefield's fifth against 10 losses in 29 career meetings with the Mariners, including 19 starts.

Acquired from Detroit on July 30, Furbush won his first start with the Mariners four days later before allowing seven runs over four innings in a loss at Texas on Monday. The 25-year old will be making his fifth career start. Furbush faced Boston while with the Tigers on May 27, tossing five scoreless innings of relief.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (51-67): Justin Smoak was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, one day after suffering a broken nose and fractured cheekbone. Playing for the first time since Aug. 2 due to a thumb injury, Smoak was hit in the face by Jarrod Saltalamacchia's one-hopper in the second inning Friday. Wily Mo Pena replaced Smoak on the roster and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his Mariners debut. Pena hit .196 (9-for-46) with five home runs and seven RBIs in 17 games with Arizona before being released on July 24 and was signed by Seattle three days later. Franklin Gutierrez recorded his fifth straight two-hit performance with a pair of singles.

ABOUT THE RED SOX (73-45): Kevin Youkilis missed his second consecutive game with a sore back. Jacoby Ellsbury became the sixth player in franchise history to register 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season with a two-run shot in the sixth inning Saturday. Ellsbury, who leads Boston with 31 steals, is the first member of the Red Sox to accomplish the feat since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997. Manager Terry Francona was ejected in the fourth inning after arguing home plate umpire Mark Ripperger's decision to reverse a call. Ellsbury originally was ruled safe at the plate after Pedroia flied out to Ichiro Suzuki in right field, but after a discussion among the umpires, it was decided catcher Josh Bard held on to the ball after the collision.

FINAL PITCH: Suzuki hit his 34th career leadoff home run Saturday, giving him sole possession of ninth place on the all-time list. Both of Suzuki's blasts this season led off games.