The Seattle Mariners open a three-game weekend set with the Oakland Athletics down in the Bay Area tonight. In the opening tilt, a pair of southpaws in Joe Saunders and Tommy Milone will do battle. Unlike years past where it would seem like these two clubs had played each other 40 times by this point in the schedule, tonight will mark only their eighth meeting of the campaign.
This will be the third time this season that Saunders and Milone face each other, though. In round one, Michael Morse and Franklin Gutierrez hit dingers off Milone, but that was all the offense Seattle could muster as they lost 6-2 down in Oakland. Saunders made it just four frames, chased after 88 pitches -- with only 48 of those being strikes. The A's collected four runs on seven hits off Saunders.
When the Mariners hosted the A's about a month later, Saunders helped turn the tables for a 6-1 Seattle victory. While his 104 pitches -- 64 strikes -- spanned just 6 1/3 innings, he only allowed one run off the five hits. Milone contained the M's to just one homer this time around, but two men were on when Kendrys Morales went yard.
Rubber match time!
Lineups
Seattle Mariners
1. Jason Bay, R-9
2. Nick Franklin, S-4
3. Kyle Seager, L-5
4. Kendrys Morales, S-DH
5. Michael Morse, R-3
6. Raul Ibanez, L-7
7. Mike Zunino, R-2
8. Michael Saunders, L-8
9. Brendan Ryan, R-6
LHP Joe Saunders
Current Athletics hitters, career, against Saunders:
PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 129 | 32 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 16 | .288 | .375 | .477 | .852 |
Has not faced: John Jaso, Eric Sogard.
Oakland Athletics
1. Chris Young, R-8
2. Seth Smith, L-7
3. Jed Lowrie, S-6
4. Yoenis Cespedes, R-DH
5. Nate Freiman, R-3
6. Derek Norris, R-2
7. Josh Reddick, L-9
8. Adam Rosales, R-5
9. Eric Sogard, L-4
LHP Tommy Milone
Current Mariners hitters, career, against Milone:
PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 82 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 22 | .221 | .256 | .377 | .633 |
Has not faced: Endy Chavez, Nick Franklin, Raul Ibanez, Mike Zunino.