Seattle @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2011 ) Seattle 2, LA Angels 1

THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels are having trouble with the Seattle Mariners at the worst time possible. The Angels have lost to Seattle three times in six meetings since August 29 entering Wednesday’s finale of the three-game series. The Angels fell 3 1/2 games behind the first-place Texas Rangers with Tuesday’s loss, the club’s second to Seattle ace Felix Hernandez in six days. Los Angeles split four games with the Mariners in Seattle last week before splitting the first two games of the current series in Anaheim. Seattle snapped a five-game losing streak and has won just three of its last 12 games – with all the wins coming against Los Angeles.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, FSW (Los Angeles).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Charlie Furbush (3-7, 4.97 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jerome Williams (2-0, 4.58 ERA)

Furbush has lost three straight decisions and is 2-4 with a 6.39 ERA since joining the Mariners in a late-July trade with Detroit. He lost to the Angels in his last outing when he gave up four runs and four hits in six innings. The rookie is 0-2 with a 5.56 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Angels. Torii Hunter is 3-for-4 with two homers against Furbush.

Williams is making his sixth appearance and third start since joining the Angels in mid-August. He has won both his starts, going seven innings in each of them. He has allowed five runs as a starter and four of them occurred when he beat the Mariners on August 30. He gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out six in that contest.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (77-65): Los Angeles scored 21 runs during a three-game winning streak before being held to one unearned run and four hits by Hernandez and Brandon League on Tuesday. The Angels committed four errors and both Seattle runs were unearned. Erick Aybar had a costly error and was hitless in three at-bats as his 15-game hitting streak concluded. Torii Hunter had a bunt single to extend his hitting streak to nine games. All-Star Howie Kendrick wasn’t in the starting lineup due to his .209 career average against Hernandez. Kendrick appeared as a pinch hitter and grounded out against Hernandez. Infielders Alexi Amarista and Gil Velazquez were recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (59-82): Seattle won Tuesday despite leaving 14 runners on base. The Mariners have scored just 17 runs over the last seven games. Ichiro Suzuki had one hit and his bid to reach 200 hits for the 11th straight campaign is fading. Ichiro needs 39 hits over the final 21 games. Mike Carp was named AL Rookie of the Month for August. Carp batted .313 with six homers and 25 RBIs during the month. Franklin Gutierrez (oblique) was placed on the 60-day disabled list to officially end his season. Gutierrez batted just .224 in 92 games. Michael Saunders was in the lineup after being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma and went 0-for-3 but had an RBI. Saunders batted .168 in a 45-game stint with Seattle earlier this season.

FINAL PITCH: Tuesday’s loss was only 10th for Los Angeles in its last 36 games at Angel Stadium. Seattle’s victory was just its fourth in its last 22 games in Anaheim.