Pirates at Mariners
Felix Hernandez, who was unable to hold a seven-run lead in his last outing, attempts to win his fourth consecutive decision when the Seattle Mariners conclude a two-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. Hernandez ended up with a no-decision in Seattle’s 10-9 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, a game in which he allowed a season-worst 12 hits in five innings. Starling Marte hit two of Pittsburgh’s five homers in Tuesday’s 9-4 victory.
Brandon Inge, Russell Martin and Gaby Sanchez also went deep in Pittsburgh’s first five-homer effort since July 22, 2009 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates have won five consecutive game, are a season-high 17 games above .500 and have the second-best record in the majors behind division rival St. Louis. Seattle is 3-6 over its last nine games and Tuesday’s contest marked the fourth time it allowed nine or more runs during the stretch.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh, Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 3.07 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (8-4, 2.72)
Gomez will be activated from the disabled list to make his first major-league appearance since suffering a forearm injury June 2. In his last start prior to the injury, he pitched seven innings of three-hit shutout ball in a no-decision against the Detroit Tigers. Gomez allowed two hits in five shutout innings to beat Seattle on May 7 and is 1-1 with 1.64 ERA in two career starts against the Mariners.
Hernandez allowed a season-high seven runs (six earned) while failing to protect the large lead against the Angels. He hasn’t lost since falling to the Texas Rangers on May 25. Hernandez allowed one run and six hits in eight innings while beating the Pirates on May 8 and is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in two career outings against Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marte went 3-for-5 in the opener for his fifth multi-hit performance in his last 10 games.
2. Seattle 1B Justin Smoak homered in the ninth inning on Tuesday, his first in 25 home games this season.
3. Inge’s homer in the opener was his first since last August 1 when he hit one for Oakland against Tampa Bay.