GAME INFORMATION Safeco Field • PO Box 4100 • Seattle, WA 98194 • TEL: 206.346.4000 • FAX: 206.346.4000 • www.mariners.com Wednesday, August 15, 2012 TAMPA BAY RAYS (63-53) vs. SEATTLE MARINERS (54-64) Game #119 (54-64) Safeco Field RH Jeremy Hellickson (7-7, 3.52) vs. RH Felix Hernandez (10-5, 2.74) Home #57 (26-30) UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS…all times PDT… Day Date Opp. Time Mariners Pitcher Opposing Pitcher TV Thursday Aug. 16 Off Day Friday Aug. 17 MIN 7:10 pm RH Hisashi Iwakuma (3-3, 4.16) vs. RH Nick Blackburn (4-8, 7.33) ROOT Saturday Aug. 18 MIN 6:10 pm LH Jason Vargas (13-8, 3.56) vs. LH Scott Diamond (10-5, 2.97) 770 AM/ROOT Sunday Aug. 19 MIN 1:10 pm RH Blake Beavan (7-7, 5.17) vs. RH Samuel Deduno (4-0, 3.38) ROOT All games broadcast on 710 ESPN Seattle & Mariners Radio Network Spanish Audio available for all home games, presented by ROOT SPORTS via SAP (where available) TODAY’S TILT…the Mariners continue their 9-game, 10-day homestand with the 3-game series ONE AND DONE Lucas Luetge has made 48 finale vs. the Tampa Bay Rays (1-1)…also face the Minnesota Twins (3 G) and Cleveland Indians (3 appearances, 2nd-most on the G) during the ‘stand…went 3-6 on recently completed road trip to New York-AL (1-2), Baltimore (0- team this season…faced only 1 3) and Los Angeles-AL (2-1)…today’s game will be televised on ROOT Sports in high definition and batter in 17 of his 48 appearances, broadcast live on 710 ESPN Seattle & the Mariners Radio Network. and retired the batter in 13 of those 17 appearances (6 K’s)…17 ODDS AND ENDS…won last night 3-2 on walk-off single by Eric Thames; 5th walk-off win this appearances while facing only 1 season…had 7-game home winning streak snapped Monday night…won 11 of 18 & 17 of last 28 batter are tied for 5th-most in club history, and most since George games…won 5 of last 8 series…5-7 in August, 15-11 in July & 18-12 since the ASG…are 13-23 vs. Sherrill had 25 in 2007. AL East (.361) -- 41-41 (.500) vs. non-AL East teams, including 16-12 vs. AL Central…42-15 (.737) when scoring 4+ runs, 12-49 when scoring less than 4. BATTING IMPROVEMENT Here is a look at the Mariners offense • Home ERA -- Rank 3rd in AL in home ERA (3.03); currently lowest home ERA in club history (‘01-3.04). through 118 games this season • Blown Leads -- Held a lead in 30 of 64 losses, leading the American League. compared to last season: • Home vs. Road -- Batting .249 (564x2261) on the road (62 G) and .208 (364x1747) at home (56 G)…3rd Stat 2012 2011 in MLB (2nd AL) in road scoring (290 R) & 4th AL in R/G on the road (4.68)…last at home (3.12 R/G). Record 54-64 51-67 • Brendan Ryan is T1st amongst AL shortstops with a .991 FLD% (4 E, 425 TC); 14.8 UZR & 25 runs saved. Avg. .232 .230 Runs 464 395 • Run Differential -- Mariners trail their opponents 464-474 this season (-10), but Seattle has outscored R/G 3.93 3.35 its opponent 148-128 (+20) since July 2. HR 99 71 • Southpaws -- are 19-22 vs. left-handed starters, including winning 9 of last 12 G vs. LH starters. XBH 296 266 • According to FanGraphs, RH Carter Capps is averaging 98.4 mph on his fastball in his 3 appearances. HOME WIN STREAK THE KING’S COURT…Felix Hernandez makes his 25th start of the season today…is 10-5 with a The Mariners had their 7-game home win streak snapped Monday night… 2.74 ERA (52 ER, 171.0 IP) with 162 strikeouts (8.53 K/9.0 IP) and a .229 opponents batting average the streak tied for the 6th-longest (144x629)…is 6-0 with a 1.73 ERA (16 ER, 83.1 IP) during his current 6-game win streak (over 11 starts home winning streak in franchise since June 17)…amongst AL leaders ranks 2nd in innings pitched, T3rd in strikeouts, 5th in ERA, history, and first 7 game win streak at home since winning 9 in a row (6/23- T5th in games started, 6th in opponents average and 10th in K/9.0 IP…Felix leads the Majors with 7/12/07)…he is a look at the longest 9 starts allowing 1 or fewer runs in 8.0 or more innings (no other AL pitchers has more than 5). home winning streaks in franchise history: SEATTLE VS. RAYS…the Mariners and Rays meet for the final time in the 10-game season series Team Average today (3-6)…began the 2012 season series playing the first 7 games at Tropicana Field (2-5)…Seattle 11 ................... May 20-June 8, 2001 leads all-time series 72-62, including a 34-28 mark in Safeco…Mariners have won 3 of last 4 in the 9 .................. June 23-July 12, 2007 series after dropping 9 straight games vs. the Rays July 31, 2011-July 20, 2012. 9 ......................... Sept. 19-26, 1995 8 ........................... June 1-23, 1997 CLOSE GAMES VS. RAYS…6 of the last 7 games vs. the Rays have been decided by 1 run, with 8 .......................... June 14-29, 1985 7 .................... July 26-Aug. 1, 2012 Monday’s 4-1 defeat snapping a 5-game streak of 1-run affairs…the previous time the Mariners had 7 ......................... June 20-27, 2000 5 consecutive 1-run games vs. any opponent was also the Rays from Aug. 24, 2004-May 29, 2005… TOM TERRIFIC of the 134 games played between Seattle and Tampa Bay, 52 have been decided by 1-run (38.8%), Tom Wilhelmsen has allowed 4 runs including 33 games since 2005. over his last 30 appearances (since RUBBER MATCH RECORD…the Mariners play their Major League leading 22nd rubber game of the 5/25)…gone 2-1 and 16-for-17 in save opportunities with a 1.06 ERA (4 season today (game to decide outcome of a 3-game series)…have had 16 of their last 19 3-game ER, 34.0 IP) over that span with 38 series decided in the final game (6-10 in those series)…overall are 9-12 in rubber games this season, strikeouts (10.01 K/9.0 IP)…among leading to a 15-21-2 series record. AL relievers ranks 4th in innings (57.1), T9th in games (52) and 10th SEAGER LIKING SAFECO…Kyle Seager has recorded a hit in 8 consecutive games at Safeco Field, in saves (16). batting .467 (14x30) with one double, 5 runs scored and 3 RBI…during the 8-game home hitting streak 2-OUT RBI has raised his home average from .167 to .215. Kyle Seager leads the Major Leagues with 40 2-out RBI…he is batting .636 YOUTH MOVEMENT…the Mariners are currently the 3rd-youngest team in the American League and (7x11) with 16 RBI with the bases have 6 rookies on 25-man roster: RH Carter Capps, RH Hisashi Iwakuma, INF Munenori Kawasaki, loaded, .354 (35x99) with RISP and LH Lucas Luetge, C/DH Jesus Montero and RH Stephen Pryor…roster also includes 10 players 25 .383 (23x60) with RISP/2 outs: years old or younger and 14 players with less than 2 years of MLB service time…7 players have made 2-Out RBI Leaders Team their MLB debut in 2012. 40 Kyle Seager .......................SEA 36 Andre Ethier ........................LAD STARTERS ON A ROLL…Mariners starting pitchers are 13-6 with a 2.89 ERA (55 ER, 171.1 IP), 36 Freddie Freeman..................ATL 35 Miguel Cabrera ...................DET 117 K’s and 18 quality starts over their last 25 G (since 7/19)…since the All-Star break the Mariners 35 Nelson Cruz ........................ TEX starters rank 2nd in the American League with a 3.32 ERA (TB leads with 2.60 mark). SO CLOSE JASO ON BASE…John Jaso has reached base safely via hit or walk in a career-high 10 straight Nearly half of the Mariners games have games…Dustin Ackley holds team-high streak reaching safely in 15 consecutive May 23-June 12. been decided by 1 or 2 runs (58 of 118), going 16-20 in 1-run and 9-13 LET’S GO JASO…John Jaso is batting .362 (34x94) with 18 runs scored, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 in 2-run games…T3rd-most games home runs and 24 RBI in Mariners wins, compared to .216 (22x102) with 10 runs, 7 doubles, 3 home among AL teams decided by 2 or runs and 12 RBI in Mariners losses. fewer runs (DET - 60 G, CWS - 60), T2nd-most 1-run games (36) and HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE…Mariners have won 8 of their last 9 games at Safeco Field dating back T2nd-most extra-inning games (12, to July 26 to improve home record from 18-29 (11 games under .500) to current mark of 26-30 (4 5-7) in the AL (BAL - 14). games under .500)…also 16-11 (.593) in last 27 games at Safeco Field dating back to June 26 (were ON THE AIR 10-19 prior)…had 7-game win streak snapped Monday night, the longest home win streak since a Mariners will use rotation of announcers this season, all former partners of 9-gamer in 2007.