Athletics-Mariners Preview
No matter how either team has fared heading into the series, there's something about playing at Safeco Field that has brought out the best in the Oakland Athletics. After snapping a four-game losing streak, the A's could have a tough time continuing the outstanding pitching that has keyed a 4-0 road record against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night when Kendall Graveman looks to avoid his sixth straight defeat. The A's were outscored 22-9 while getting swept four straight by the visiting New York Yankees before making themselves comfortable again in the Pacific Northwest. Stephen Vogt homered and Jake Smolinski and Coco Crisp each had two hits in Monday's 5-0 series-opening victory at Safeco. Oakland (20-26) had dropped 11 of its previous 14 road games, but has won all four at Seattle (26-18) by a combined 16-4. The A's have an 0.73 ERA in those contests after Rich Hill's eight-inning gem Monday. Graveman (1-6, 5.48 ERA), however, is trying to avoid becoming the first Oakland pitcher to lose six consecutive outings, all starts, since Vin Mazzaro in 2009. "We continue to fight," Hill told the league's official website. "I think that's really the theme of this ballclub. We'll continue to go as hard as we can for as long as we can." The right-hander has allowed a total of 22 runs and 39 hits - including eight homers - over 25 innings during his five-start losing streak. He had a somewhat promising effort Thursday when he gave up two runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Yankees. The Mariners contributed to Graveman's slide on May 2, tagging him with four runs and 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win at Oakland. In his only other start versus Seattle, the 25-year-old worked seven innings in a 2-0 win July 4, 2015. Nelson Cruz had three hits off him, while Norichika Aoki and Robinson Cano had two apiece in the first meeting. Leonys Martin, though, is 0 for 8 lifetime in the matchup. Martin has gone 12 for 20 with three home runs in his last six games after totaling six hits in the past two while filling in atop the lineup for injured Ketel Marte. "Try to get on base and create situations to score runs," Martin said. "The small game. I'm trying to do everything I can." The first-place Mariners hope to get on track after their four-game winning streak ended. They're also trying to avoid their first five-game home skid since April 8-12. Nathan Karns (4-1, 3.33) hasn't lost since allowing four runs over five innings in a 6-1 home loss to Oakland on April 9. The Mariners have since won six of his last seven starts. The right-hander has gone 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA over his past five outings. He got back at the A's on May 2 when he gave up three runs over six innings in a 4-3 road win. Vogt is 4 for 5 with a double off Karns this season and Khris Davis is 3 for 5 with two home runs. The A's, who have already lost Mark Canha and Sam Fuld for the season and are currently missing Josh Reddick, have totaled just 14 runs while batting .185 with two homers over their last five games. |