Mariners at Rays
Nelson Cruz is enjoying his best stretch of the campaign and the Seattle slugger looks for his seventh multi-hit outing in nine games Thursday when the Mariners open a four-game series against the host Tampa Bay Rays. Cruz is 12-for-31 with three homers during the stretch after going deep for the 11th time this season during Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Houston Astros.
Seattle had a five-game winning streak halted with Wednesday's setback but owns a one-game lead over Houston in the American League West due to a 14-4 stretch. Shortstop Jean Segura went 5-for-9 in two games against the Astros and the back-to-back multi-hit outings raise his major league-leading count in that category to 27. Tampa Bay has scored only 12 runs during a six-game slide and manager Kevin Cash defended the recent practice of starting a reliever after Jonny Venters retired only one batter and allowed five runs in the first inning of Wednesday's 11-2 loss to the Washington Nationals. "(Wednesday) was one of those gut-wrenching days," Cash said afterward. "It didn't go our way and smacked us right in the face. One bad outing, one bad whatever you want to call it. I don't think it's fair to get away from it."
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports Northwest (Seattle), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Mike Leake (5-3, 4.71 ERA) vs. Rays RH Ryne Stanek (1-1, 3.65)
Leake allowed two runs and six hits over seven innings against Tampa Bay on Friday but didn't get a victory because closer Edwin Diaz blew the save in the ninth inning. The 30-year-old Leake is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three career starts against the Rays but has struggled with Carlos Gomez (8-for-20, one home run). Leake has a solid 1.66 ERA over his past three starts and hasn't issued a walk over his last four turns.
The Rays are 3-5 when opening with a reliever as Stanek will start a game for the third time under the unique approach. The 26-year-old is unscored upon in seven of his past eight appearances and has allowed only three hits in 8 2/3 innings during the stretch. Stanek retired all five Mariners he faced in a relief appearance Saturday and has given up one hit in 2 2/3 innings in two career outings versus Seattle.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mariners swept the Rays in Seattle last weekend while holding Tampa Bay to five runs.
2. Tampa Bay announced that it will recall 1B Jake Bauers from Triple-A Durham prior to Thursday's contest.
3. Seattle released veteran LHP Marc Rzepczynski five days after designating him for assignment.