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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Pregame: M’s turn to Hisashi Iwakuma as stopper, lineups and starters

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Detroit. (Carlos Osorio / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

The Seattle Mariners host Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels in the second of a three-game series at Safeco Field at 7:10 p.m.

The M’s lost a tough one on Tuesday, an 11-inning, 4-hour, 40 minute slog that featured 15 walks, nine from Mariners’ pitchers.

What’s even tougher is that Seattle closer Edwin Diaz, utilized to face a big bat in the eighth, coughed up a home run which put the M’s in a hole late.

The Mariners turn to Hisashi Iwakuma as stopper of a three-game losing streak. The 36-year-old veteran had one of his sharpest outings of the season last time out in a 2-1 win over the Tigers on April 27, though he didn’t get the decision.

No longer “early” on the calendar, the Mariners have to cut into the deficit in the division they’ve dug for themselves. Houston in at 18-9 at the start of play on Wednesday, so the M’s are in danger of watching the division race run away from them even before Memorial Day unless they make serious strides quickly.

Transaction: Before the game, the M’s outrighted RHP Casey Fien to AAA Tacoma. The team had designated the veteran reliever for assignment on Tuesday in the flurry of moves to bring up some fresh arms for the pen.

Lineups and starter matchup

Game 28: Seattle Mariners (11-16) vs. Los Angeles Angels (15-13), 7:10 p.m. at Safeco Field

Courtesy @MarinersPR
Courtesy @MarinersPR

Starters: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2, 4.15) vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco (2-2, 4.13)

Mariners Notes

  • 2B Robinson Canó is hitting .327 (16 for 49) with 10 runs, three doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and an .881 OPS in his last 12 games.
  • OF Guillermo Heredia has reached base safely in 11 of his last 12 games, including eight games with at least one hit and five multi-hit contests.
  • In his last eight appearances (8 2/3 innings), Nick Vincent has retired 26 of the last 28 batters he has faced, including nine via strikeout and stranded all five of inherited runners.
  • The Mariners have scored first in 10 (4-6) of their last 11 games.
  • The Mariners will face A.L. West opponents in eight of their next 14 games. Seattle is 6-12 facing the division this season, including 4-3 at home.

This Day in Mariners History

In 1998, Dan Wilson hit an inside-the-park grand slam in a 10-6 win vs. Detroit. It is the 11st grand slam of its kind in MLB history.