Athletics-Mariners Preview

4/27/2008 12:23 AM

By JON PALMIERI
STATS Editor

Adding Erik Bedard to a rotation that already boasted emerging star Felix Hernandez figured to give the Seattle Mariners one of baseball's best top of the rotations.

While it took Bedard a month and three starts to prove how dominant he can be, Hernandez has been doing it all season.

Hernandez looks to win his sixth straight start against the Oakland Athletics as the teams conclude a three-game series Sunday at Safeco Field.

The offseason acquisition of Bedard from Baltimore gave Seattle (12-13) another potential All-Star in its rotation along with Hernandez (2-0, 1.67 ERA), who is among the game's best young pitchers.

Bedard, though, was mediocre in his first two starts before missing 15 games with inflammation in his left hip. The left-hander was activated from the disabled list Saturday and pitched his best game as a Mariner, allowing two hits over 6 2-3 scoreless innings in a 5-3 victory.

"He really looked great. He had everything working, he had great control. He really threw the ball well,'' Seattle manager John McLaren said.

Closer J.J. Putz struggled in a non-save situation, giving up two runs in the ninth before retiring Mark Sweeney on a check-swing grounder for the final out with the tying runs on base.

Seattle ended a three-game losing streak and improved to 7-1 in its last eight meetings with Oakland (15-10).

Greg Norton made the most of a rare start, collecting three hits and three RBIs in place of struggling designated hitter Jose Vidro. Norton is 6-for-12 this season, while Vidro is batting .195 (17-for-87) with two home runs and 16 RBIs.

"I was just able to get some decent swings on balls tonight,'' Norton said. "As bench players we do a lot of extra work and when you get that opportunity to get in there you hope to produce.''

Hernandez was outstanding in a 4-2 victory at Oakland on April 16, giving up two runs and eight hits in fourth career complete game. He walked one and struck out a season-high eight in improving to 5-0 with a 1.22 ERA in his last five starts against the Athletics.

The right-hander is 6-2 - his most wins against any opponent - with a 2.10 ERA in nine starts against Oakland.

Despite another outstanding performance, Hernandez was denied his third straight victory his last time out. He limited Baltimore to two runs and six hits over seven innings before leaving without a decision in Seattle's 4-2 win.

Hernandez has been very consistent in the season's first month, pitching at least 6 2-3 innings in each of his five starts while allowing two runs or fewer four times.

Saturday's loss was only the second in eight games for the Athletics, who are tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the best record in the AL.

Winless at home this season, Oakland's Joe Blanton (1-4, 4.32) won't mind pitching on the road. The right-hander dropped to 0-4 at home after allowing five runs and nine hits over 7 2-3 innings in a 5-4 loss to Minnesota on Tuesday.

Blanton, who won his only road start this season at Cleveland on April 11, struck out a season-high seven and didn't issue a walk for the second straight outing.

Blanton was reached for four runs and a career high-tying 12 hits though eight innings when matched up against Hernandez on April 16. He is 7-4 with a 3.20 ERA in 13 career starts against the Mariners, including 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA in five starts at Safeco Field.

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki is 15-for-43 (.349) against Blanton while Kenji Johjima and Yuniesky Betancourt are both 9-for-26 (.346) with a home run.