Mariners Pregame: Second debut of Erasmo Ramirez, lineups and starters
Game 108: Seattle Mariners (54-53) vs. Texas Rangers (50-55) at 5:05 p.m. at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
The Mariners had a 14-12 record in July, their third consecutive .500 or better month after posting an 11-15 mark in April. Seattle began July by dropping six of its first eight games, but closed out the month by notching a 12-6 record from July 9 on. The 12-6 record since July 9 is the best mark in the American League and fourth-best in MLB (Dodgers 14-2; Cubs 13-4; Nationals 12-5).
The M’s are 22-26 on the road.
Since the All-Star Break, Kyle Seager has hit in 15 of 17 games, batting .323 (21 of 65) with nine doubles, four home runs and eight RBIs and he’s hit in a season-high eight straight games.
The game marks the return to the Mariners of pitcher Erasmo Ramirez, acquired last week in a trade with Tampa Bay in exchange for reliever Steve Cishek. Ramirez pitched for the Mariners from 2012-2014.
Lineups and starters
Starters: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (4-3, 4.80) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (3-3, 4.56)
Mariners Notes
- With his double on Monday, Kyle Seager has 22 career doubles at Globe Life Park, the most of any active visiting player. Among all players (active and retired), Seager ranks fifth in doubles as a visitor at the Rangers ballpark, trailing Garret Anderson (25), Johnny Damon (24), Eric Chavez (23) and Darin Erstad (23).
- Over the club’s last 62 games, since May 21, the Mariners bullpen has posted a 2.67 ERA (62 ER, 209 innings), the second-best in the Majors during that span. Seattle’s bullpen ranks behind Los Angeles (N.L.) (2.67) and ahead of Boston (2.83) during that span.
- DH Nelson Cruz leads the A.L. in RBIs with 79 while Robinson Canó ranks sixth with 70 RBI, Seattle is the only American League team – and one of six Major League teams (also: Colorado-3, Washington-3, Arizona, Cincinnati and Miami) – to have multiple players with at least 70 RBI each.
- Seattle is 50-17 when scoring four runs-or-more, but 4-36 when scoring three-or-fewer runs. Saturday’s win marked the Mariners first win when scoring three-or-fewer runs since April 28 at Cleveland.
This Day in Mariners History
In 2000, Mike Cameron ended a marathon game with a solo blast, off Boston’s Jeff Fassero, to lead off the bottom of the 19th inning. The Mariners’ bullpen – Brett Tomko, Jose Mesa, Rob Ramsay and Kazuhiro Sasaki – dominated the Red Sox hitters for final 10 innings, surrendering only four hits and six walks while striking out three in the 5-4 win.