Texas @ Seattle preview
T-Mobile Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2011 ) Texas 7, Seattle 6
THE STORY: After squandering a chance to increase their lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West on Friday, the Texas Rangers didn't make the same mistake Saturday. Texas moved 4 1/2 games ahead of Los Angeles with a 7-6 victory over Seattle and the Angels' second straight loss to Baltimore. The Rangers, who have won five of six, go for the series win in the rubber game at Safeco Field on Sunday. The Mariners have lost 11 of their last 16 contests.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), Root Sports (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Matt Harrison (12-9, 3.56 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (14-12, 3.30 ERA).
Harrison has won two straight starts since making a relief appearance on Aug. 31, including a triumph over Cleveland on Tuesday in which he allowed three runs in five innings. The lefthander, who turned 26 on Friday, has gone 3-1 in his last six starts but pitched more than 5 1/3 innings only twice in that span. Harrison is 2-0 with a 1.84 ERA in two outings against Seattle this season.
Hernandez is coming off one of his worst starts of the season as he surrendered six runs in six innings against the New York Yankees on Monday. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner had allowed six runs in his previous four outings combined. Hernandez lost both of his previous two starts against Texas this year, including a 5-1 setback on July 16 in which he yielded four runs over 7 2/3 frames.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (87-65): Nelson Cruz made his first start since Aug. 28 due to a strained hamstring and went 1-for-5 as the designated hitter. Closer Neftali Feliz continued his dominance over Seattle by tossing a perfect inning Saturday. The Mariners are 0-for-42 with three walks and 18 strikeouts in 15 all-time meetings with the 2010 AL Rookie of the Year. Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler both are hitting .189 lifetime against Hernandez but have combined for four home runs and 10 RBIs.
ABOUT THE MARINERS (63-88): Shortstop Brendan Ryan singled and scored a run before leaving Saturday's loss after two innings with a neck injury. Reliever Dan Cortes' season is over thanks to an off-field incident on Thursday that left him with a fractured hand. The righthander went 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA in 10 appearances this season. Seattle struck out 13 times Saturday, raising its season total to a franchise-high 1,187 - three more than last year's amount. Ichiro Suzuki has had his problems against Harrison over his career, recording just five hits in 24 at-bats (.208).
FINAL PITCH: Suzuki had two hits Saturday, raising his season total to 172. Barring a sensational performance over his last 11 games, the star outfielder will fall short of 200 hits for the first time in his 11 years in the major leagues and post a career low in the process. His previous low is 206 hits set in 2005.