#136: Red Sox Languishing In Mariners Territory

GAME: Red Sox (62-73, 4th, AL East, – 15.0 GB) at Mariners (65-70, 4th, AL West, – 15.0 GB). GAME #: 136. SERIES: 1st of 3 games. MEETING: 7th (Red Sox lead 4-2). WHEN: Monday, 1:10 p.m., Safeco Field. PROBABLE PITCHERS: RHP Clay Buchholz (Boston, 11-4, 4.50) vs. LHP Jason Vargas (Seattle, 13-9, 3.90). STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Red Sox L 6. TV: ROOT Sports, MLB TV. RADIO: ESPN 710-AM (Seattle), Mariners Radio Network

It’s not often that the Boston Red Sox, losers of their last six, are as far out of their division race (-15.0 GB, AL East) as the Mariners are in theirs (-15.0 GB, AL West), but that’s the size of it as the clubs begin a three-game series at Safeco Field with a Monday matinee, the third consecutive day game at the ballpark.

The Red Sox were outscored 33-5 in a three-game sweep by the Oakland A’s, have lost 11 of 14 and are now 11 games below .500 for the first time since 1997. Their purge of top-end salaries and talent with the Dodgers has left the club nearly lifeless and put the job of first-year manager Bobby Valentine in even greater jeopardy.

After Felix Hernandez’s first loss since June 12 Saturday, and Hisashi Iwakuma’s fourth consecutive great start Sunday, the Mariners will turn Monday to a suddenly struggling Jason Vargas, who has had two bad outings in a row, including a 10-0 undressing by the normally lame Minnesota Twins Aug. 29.

Vargas has a loss and a no-decision against the Red Sox this season and has defeated the Beantowners just one in his career. He’ll oppose Clay Buchholz, who hasn’t seen the Mariners since 2010 (hasn’t missed much) and has faced only five members of the current Mariners roster. A closer look:

MARINERS: LHP Jason Vargas (13-9, 3.90 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)

The 29-year-old Vargas, in his seventh major league season and fifth with the Mariners, will make his league-high 29th start and third against the Red Sox. Vargas, the American League Pitcher of the Month for July, lost to the Red Sox 6-1 May 14 at Fenway Park and had a no-decision vs. Boston July 1 at Safeco Field. He is coming off a 10-0 loss to Minnesota at Target Field Aug. 29.

A native of Apple Valley, CA., the 6-0, 215-pound Vargas was selected in the second round of the 2004 amateur draft by the Florida Marlins.

He made his debut with Florida July 14, 2005, pitching one inning of relief in a 13-7 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Mariners acquired Vargas as part of a three-team swap Dec. 11, 2008, when the New York Mets sent him along with Mike Carp, Ezequiel Carrera, Endy Chavez, Maikel Cleto and Aaron Heilman to the Mariners. The Mariners sent Sean Green, J.J. Putz and Jeremy Reed to the Mets.

The Mariners also sent Luis Valbuena to the Indians. The Mets sent Joe Smith to the  Indians, who sent Franklin Gutierrez to the Mariners.

Vargas, the only lefty in Seattle’s starting rotation, has a career record of 41-48, 4.38 ERA, including 35-40, 4.11 ERA with the Mariners.

Vargas has had just three outings of less than five innings this year, but two have been in his past two starts at Chicago and Minnesota. He’ll be happy to be back at Safeco Field, where his ERA is 2.63 this year compared to 4.84 on the road.

• LAST START: Aug. 29 at Target Field in Minneapolis, lost 10-0; five earned runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings; five strikeouts to two walks; two home runs.
• LAST VS. RED SOX: July 1 at Safeco Field, took a no-decision in Seattle’s 2-1 loss; one earned run on five hits over 8.0 innings; six strikeouts to two walks; one home run.
• CAREER VS. RED SOX: 1-2, 3.51 ERA in five starts covering 33.1 innings; 17 strikeouts to 13 walks; 4.6 strikeouts per nine innings; 1.44 WHIP; seven home runs.
• AT SAFECO FIELD: 20-18, 3.40 ERA in 56 games, including 52 starts, covering 341.2 innings; 233 strikeouts to 90 walks; 31 home runs.
• LOVES TO FACE: Dustin Pedroia (2-for-12, .167 BA), Mike Aviles (1-for-6, .167 BA), Danny Valencia (2-for-10, .200 BA).
• HATES TO FACE: Cody Ross (3-for-7, .429 BA), James Loney (2-for-5, .400 BA), Jacob Ellsbury (2-for-7, .286 BA).
• CURRENT RED SOX VS. VARGAS: 18-for-79, .228 BA, two home runs, 11 strikeouts.

Vargas / 2012

• March 29 (ND, 0-0): Pitched well enough to win in Tokyo, but after he departed the game, the bullpen imploded, surrendering three home runs, greasing Seattle’s 4-1 defeat to Oakland.
• April 6 (W, 1-0): Threw 91 pitches, 58 for strikes, finishing with an in-game ERA of 2.31 in a 7-3 victory over Oakland, Vargas’ first win.
• April 12 (L, 1-1): Four earned runs on seven hits and lost to Derek Holland and the Rangers 5-3 in Arlington; fanned six and walked one; gave up a two-run bomb to Michael Young, who had four RBIs; threw 96 pitches, 63 strikes.
• April 18 (W, 2-1): One earned run on four hits over 7 innings, defeating Indians, 4-1; had nine ground-ball outs and nine fly-ball outs.
• April 24 (W, 3-1): Four runs on six hits, defeating Max Scherzer and the Tigers 7-4 in a game in which the Mariners banged out 15 hits; struck out four, walked one in a 94-pitch effort that included 61 strikes.
• April 29 (L, 3-2): Two earned runs on four hits over 6.0 innings and suffered the loss to the Blue Jays; struck out four, walked three; season-high 111 pitches, 60 for strikes.
• May 4 (ND, 3-2): No-decision in Seattle’s 3-2 loss to Minnesota at Safeco Field; one earned run on four hits over 6.1 innings, but lost a chance to win on Wilhelmsen’s throwing error.
• May 9 (W, 4-2): Defeated Detroit 2-1 at Safeco Field; one run on five hits over 8.0 innings; struck out six and didn’t issue a walk; threw 90 pitches, 66 for strikes.
• May 14 (L, 4-3): At Fenway Park, lost to Red Sox 6-1; five earned runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings; struck out three, walked three; two home runs.
• May 19 (W, 5-3): At Coors Field, won his fifth decision of the year, defeating Colorado 10-3; three earned runs on five hits over 7.0 innings; struck out one, walked one and gave up one home run; threw 95 pitches, 64 for strikes.
• May 24 (L, 5-4): At Safeco Field, lost to the Angels 3-0 in a game in which Dan Haren registered 14 strikeouts; three earned runs on seven hits in 7.0 innings; struck out six, walked none; one home run.
• May 29 (W, 6-4): At Rangers Ballpark, defeated the Texas Rangers 10-3; three earned runs on five hits in 6.2 innings; struck out three, walked two and allowed a home run; threw 101 pitches, 61 for strikes.
• June 4 (W, 7-4): At Angels Stadium, defeated the Angels 8-6; three earned runs on five hits in 6.2 innings; struck out two, walked three; one home run; threw 101 pitches, 61 for strikes.
• June 9 (L, 7-5): 8-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Safeco Field; five earned runs on nine hits over 6.0 innings; struck out three, walked one; one home run.
• June 15 (L, 7-6): Vs. San Francisco, lost 4-2; four earned runs on 10 hits in 8.0 innings; struck out one, walked two, two home runs; threw 106 pitches, 70 for strikes.
• June 20 (L, 7-7): At Arizona, lost 14-10; season-high 10 earned runs on 10 hits, including five home runs in a season-low 4.1 innings; struck out two, walked two.
• June 26 (ND, 7-7): At Safeco Field,  a no-decision in a 3-2 win over Oakland Athletics; two runs on five hits in 7.0 innings; struck out a career-high 10 and walked two.
• July 1 (ND, 7-7): At Safeco Field, lost to Boston 2-1; one run on five hits over 8.0 innings; struck out six, walked two, one home run.
• July 7 (W, 8-7): Vs. Oakland at Safeco Field, defeated the Athletics 7-1 with a complete-game seven-hitter; struck out six and walked one, throwing 107 pitches, 66 for strikes.
• July 16 (W, 9-7): At Kansas City, won 9-4; three earned runs on seven hits in 6.0 innings; struck out three, walked three, two home runs.
• July 21 (W, 10-7): At Tampa Bay, won 2-1; one unearned run on seven hits in 6.0 innings; struck out five, walked three, threw 108 pitches, 67 for strikes.
• July 26 (W, 11-7): At Safeco Field, defeated Kansas City 4-1 for his 11th win; one earned run on one hit over 8.0 innings; struck out five and walked three.
• July 31 (W, 12-7): At Safeco Field, defeated Toronto 7-2; two earned runs on five hits over 7.0 innings; four strikeouts, two walks, no home runs; 103 pitches, 70 for strikes.
• Aug. 6 (L, 12-8): At Baltimore, lost 3-1; three earned runs on eight hits over 8.0 innings; two strikeouts, no walks, one home run; 105 pitches, 73 for strikes.
• Aug. 12 (W, 13-8): At Anaheim, pitched his best game of the season, allowing one earned run on seven hits in 8.1 innings; five strikeouts, one walk; 96 pitches, 69 for strikes.
• Aug. 18 (ND, 13-8): Vs. Minnesota at Safeco Field, took a no-decision in Seattle’s 3-2 victory; two earned runs on eight hits over 6.2 innings; two strikeouts vs. one walk, no home runs; 113 pitches, 76 for strikes.
• Aug. 24 (ND, 13-8): At U.S. Cellular Field, took a no-decision in a 9-8 walk-off loss to Chicago;  six earned runs, including three homers, on seven hits in a season-low 4.0 innings; two strikeouts to no walks.
• Aug. 29 (L, 13-9): At Target Field in Minneapolis, lost 10-0; five earned runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings; five strikeouts to two walks; two home runs.

RED SOX: RHP Clay Buchholz (11-4, 4.50 ERA, 1.32 WHIP)

The 28-year-old Buchholz, in his sixth major league season, all with the Red Sox, makes his 24th start and first against the Mariners. Buchholz, who has not faced the Mariners since near the end of the 2010 season, has won three of his last four decisions and is coming off a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim Aug. 28.

A native of Nederland, TX., the 6-3, 190-pound Buchholz attended Lumberton (TX.) High School and McNeese State College before the Red Sox drafted him in the first round (42nd pick) of the 2005 amateur draft.

Buchholz pitched in Boston’s minor league system until Aug. 17, 2007, when he made his major league debut in an 8-4 victory over the Angels. Buchholz started and won, allowing three earned runs in 6.0 innings.

On Sept. 7, 2007, in just his second major league start, Buchholz threw a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, becoming just the third major league pitcher to throw a no-no in his first or second start.

Buchholz went 3-1 in 2007 and has been a prominent part of Boston’s rotation since. He posted his best year, by far, in 2010, when he went 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA in 28 starts.

Buchholz began the 2011 season as the No. 3 starter in Boston’s rotation. But he went on the disabled list in June and was finally diagnosed with a stress fracture in his back in August. He missed the remainder of the season after having made just 14 starts.

• 2012: Buchholz has worked into the seventh inning in 15 of his starts and allowed three or fewer earned runs 12 times. He had his best start June 7 at Baltimore when he blanked the Orioles 7-0 in a complete-game effort. He also had a complete game against Cleveland Aug. 10.
• LAST START: Aug. 28 at Anaheim, took a no-decision in Boston’s 6-5 loss to the Angels; four earned runs on six hits in 7.0 innings; five strikeouts to three walks; three home runs.
• LAST VS. MARINERS: Sept. 15, 2010, won 5-1; one earned run on four hits over 7.0 innings; six strikeouts to three walks; one home run; 109 pitches, 66 for strikes.
• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 1-0, 2.92 ERA in two starts covering 12.1 innings; 13 strikeouts vs. five walks; three home runs; 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
• AT SAFECO FIELD: Same as career vs. Mariners.
• LOVES/HATES TO FACE: Buchholz has faced only five Mariners. Chone Figgins is 3-for-9 and John Jaso and Miguel Olivo each have a hit.

AL WEST STANDINGS

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road	Last 10	Streak
Rangers	79	54	.594	—	43-25	36-29	7-3	Won 1
Athletics	76	57	.571	3.0	42-27	34-30	9-1	Won 9
Angels	71	63	.530	8.5	36-29	35-34	7-3	Lost 1
Mariners	65	70	.481	15.0	34-32	31-38	4-6	Won 1

MARINERS / STATS NOTES

• CURRENT HOME STAND: Three vs. L.A. Angels, three vs. the Boston Red Sox (Monday-Wednesday), three vs. Oakland Athletics Friday-Sunday.
• MARINERS VS. RED SOX: Mariners 162-217 all-time vs. the Red Sox, including 35-30 at Safeco Field. Red Sox won a two-game series against the Mariners at Fenway Park May 14-15; Mariners and Red Sox split a four-game series at Safeco Field June 28-July 1. Mariners last swept a three-game series from the Red Sox at Safeco June 25-27, 2007; Red Sox last swept a three-gamer in Seattle Sept. 13-15, 2010.
• LOG: With Sunday’s 2-1 victory over the Angels, the Mariners have won 16 of their past 19 games at Safeco Field . . . Sunday’s winner, Hisashi Iwakuma, has not allowed more than one earned run in four consecutive starts. Iwakuma allowed four Angels to reach third Sunday, but none scored. Iwakuma has a 1.69 ERA in his past eight starts . . . Jesus Montero had a home run and a single against Jered Weaver Sunday and is now 5-for-9 against the L.A. ace with four home runs . . . Michael Saunders sat out Saturday after re-tweaking his groin Friday and will likely miss a few more days. When Saunders returns, he will spend time in left and right, Franklin Gutierrez having taken over the job in center . . . Gutierrez has 829 consecutive chances without an error. The MLB record is 938 by Darren Lewis (1990-93) with the A’s and Giants . . . Mariners recalled two players from AAA Tacoma, OF Carlos Peguero and RHP Erasmo Ramirez and plan to call up more once the PCL season concludes Monday. Most likely to be summoned: Mike Carp, Casper Wells, Alex Liddi, Shawn Kelley and Hector Noesi . . . Mariners are in the midst of three consecutive day games at Safeco Field (first time since Sept. 4-6, 1999).  The start time for Wednesday’s game, originally 12:40, has been moved to 7:10 p.m.
• SEASON SUMMARY: Series Record: Won 19, Split 2, Lost 23 . . . Sweeps: 6; Swept: 5 . . . Longest Win Streak: 8 (Aug. 15-21); Longest Losing Streak: 7 (April 28-May 4) . . . vs. AL East: 14-23; vs. AL Central: 24-16; vs. AL West: 18-21; vs. LAA: 5-8; vs. Oak: 7-6; vs. Tex: 6-7; vs. NL West: 8-10; vs. Interleague: 8-10 . . . Biggest Lead: 1.0, April 7; Farthest Behind: 17.5, July 15 . . . Most Runs Scored: 21, May 30 at Texas (21-8); Most Runs Allowed: 11, April 9 at Texas . . . Walk-Off Wins: 6, May 7, first since Sept. 14, 2011 vs. New York, and first via a sacrifice fly (John Jaso) since Sept. 14, 2007 vs. Tampa Bay (Jose Guillen); June 17 vs. San Francisco (Justin Smoak ninth-inning single); June 28 vs. Boston (Jaso ph ninth-inning single); June 30 vs. Boston (Chone Figgins sacrifice fly 11th inning); Aug. 14, vs. Tampa, Eric Thames ninth-inning single scored Figgins; Aug. 18 vs. Minnesota, John Jaso sacrifice fly in ninth inning . . . Walk-Off Losses: 9, April 30 at Tampa Bay, Elliott Johnson, RBI single in 12th off Brandon League; May 17, at Cleveland, Carlos Santana bases-loaded single off League in 11th; July 6, at Oakland, Chris Carter 3-run walk-off homer off Steve Delabar; July 7, at Oakland, Josh Reddick run-scoring double off Oliver Perez in 13th; July 18, at Kansas City, Billy Butler, home run off Josh Kinney in bottom 9th; July 20, at Tampa Bay, Ben Zobrist double off Tom Wilhelmsen in bottom 14th; Aug. 7, Adam Jones 14th-inning single off Shawn Kelley in bottom 14th; Aug. 10, Josh Kinney wild pitched in the winning run (Bourjos) with the bases loaded in the ninth inning at Anaheim; Aug. 24, Paul Konerko double in ninth off Wilhelmsen . . . Times Opponent Shut out: 9; Times Shut out by Opponent: 12; Comeback Wins: 20; Largest Comeback: 3; Blown Leads: 33; Largest Comeback: 3.
• BATTING: Mariners rank 14th (AL) in runs (522), 14th in hits (1051), 13th in doubles (194), eighth in triples (22) and 11th in home runs (119) . . . Rank 14th in batting average (.232), 14th in on-base percentage (.293), 14th in slugging (.363) and 14th in OPS (.656) . . . Batting 241-for-978 (.246) with runners in scoring position after going 1-for-5 Sunday . . . Batting Average: John Jaso, .272; Hits: Kyle Seager, 119; Runs: Dustin Ackley, 75; Home Runs: Kyle Seager, 15; RBIs: Kyle Seager, 77 . . Batted around seven times: April 7 at Oakland (4th inning), April 9 at Texas (1st), April 17 vs. Cleveland (4th), May 29 at Texas (8th), May 30 at Texas (2nd and 3rd), Aug. 24 at Chicago (9th).
• BATTING EXTRA: Longest Hitting Streak: Dustin Ackley, 13 games, May 3-17 . . . Four-Hit Games: Ichiro, March 28 vs. Oakland; Justin Smoak, April 17 vs. Cleveland; Jesus Montero, May 1 at Tampa; Kyle Seager, May 30 at Texas; Michael Saunders, June 2, at Chicago; Ichiro, June 19 at Arizona; Franklin Gutierrez, June 22 at San Diego . . .  Grand Slams (2): Michael Saunders, April 27 at Toronto; Alex Liddi, May 23 vs. Texas . . . Back-To-Back Home Runs (2): Jesus Montero, Justin Smoak, 3rd inning, May 20, at Colorado; Miguel Olivo, Dustin Ackley, 8th inning, July 2, vs. Baltimore.
• PITCHING: Mariners third in ERA (3.74), third in hits allowed (1113), third in runs allowed (534), sixth in home runs allowed (139), sixth in walks (375) and sixth strikeouts (973) . . . Games: Tom Wilhelmsen, 61; Starts: Jason Vargas, Felix Hernandez, 28; Wins: Vargas, Hernandez 13; ERA: Hernandez 2.51; Complete Games: Hernandez 5 . . . Shutouts: Hernandez 5; Saves: Wilhelmsen, 22.
• DEBUTS: Munenori Kawasaki (April 7), Lucas Luetge (April 7), Erasmo Ramirez (April 9), Hisashi Iwakuma (April 20), Stephen Pryor (June 2), Carter Capps (Aug. 3).
• DISABLED LIST: George Sherrill (60-day, April 13, strained flexor bundle).
• EX-MARINERS VS. CURRENT MARINERS: April 19, Jack Hannahan, Indians, 2-run single in ninth off Brandon League in Tribe’s 2-1 win; April 28, Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays, one earned run over 7.0 innings in 7-0 win; May 11, Raul Ibanez, Yankees, 3-run homer off Felix Hernandez in 6-2 win; May 12, Raul Ibanez, Yankees, solo homer off Hector Noesi in 6-2 win; May 15, David Ortiz, Red Sox, solo homer off Blake Beaven in 5-0 Red Sox win; May 16, Shin-Soo Choo (3), Asdrubal Cabrera (2) and Jose Lopez (1) combined for 6 hits in 9-3 Cleveland win; May 17, Casey Kotchman (2), Cabrera (2), Jose Lopez (1), Choo (1) had six of Cleveland’s 10 hits, plus 5 RBIs, in a 6-5 win; July 4, Chris Tillman recorded first win of the year in a 4-2 Baltimore win by allowing two runs over 8.1 innings; July 13, Adrian Beltre two-run HR off Kevin Millwood in a 3-2 Texas win at Safeco Field; July 15, Beltre had three hits and two RBIs in a 4-0 Texas win over Seattle at Safeco Field; July 23, Four ex-Mariners played roles in beating the Mariners 4-1: Ichiro, traded 3 1/2 hours before the opening pitch, singled and stole his 16th base; Alex Rodriguez belted his 40th career home run at Safeco Field; Raul Ibanezhad an RBI single; Rafael Soriano notched the save; July 26, Soriano notched his 26th save in New York’s 5-2 win over the Mariners at Safeco Field; Aug. 5, Raul Ibanez clubbed a three-run homer, Freddy Garcia won his 150th career game and Ichiro extended his hitting streak to 12 games as the Yankees defeated the Mariners 6-2; Aug. 6, Chris Tillman took a three-hit shutout into the eighth and defeated the Mariners 3-1 at Camden Yards; Aug. 7, Adam Jones walk-off single against Shawn Kelley in the bottom of the 14th gave Baltimore an 8-7 win over Seattle.

2012 RECORDS / MILESTONES

• April 24: Catcher Miguel Olivo matched the franchise record  when he was charged with three passed balls in a 7-4 win at Detroit. Jerry Narron let three balls get by him Oct. 4, 1980, and Jeff Clement did likewise Aug. 10, 2008 (Clement was catching knuckleballer R.A. Dickey).
• April 27: Michael Saunders joined Donnie Scott (April 29, 1985) and Jimmy Presley (April 8, 1986) as the only Mariners to hit two home runs in a game in the ninth inning or later (solo homer in the 9th, grand slam in the 10th).
• April 30: When both Miguel Olivo and Jesus Montero homered, it marked the first time in franchise history that two players had homered in the same game as a catcher.
• May 2: Ichiro set a club record for most putouts by a right fielder in a nine-inning game, registering 10 in a 5-4 loss at Tampa.
• May 3: The Mariners featured a lineup at Tampa Bay that included seven left- handed hitters and two switch-hitters. It marked only the third time in club history that the Mariners used an all left-sided lineup. Others: Aug. 13, 1983 at California and Aug. 9, 1983 at Oakland.
• May 5: Combined one-hitter by Felix Hernandez and Steve Delabar vs. Minnesota was the 13th in Mariners history. Ten have been thrown by one pitcher, three combined. Most recent combined: Michael Pineda, Jeff Gray and Brandon League vs. Tampa, July 30, 2011. Most recent by one pitcher: Jarrod Washburn, July 6, 2009.
• May 9: When John Jaso batted leadoff against Detroit, it marked the first time since 1978 that a catcher had hit first for the Marines (Bob Stinson). Oddly, lefty Jaso led off against Tiger lefty Drew Smyly.
• May 8: Kevin Millwood’s 2-0 shutout marked his first in nearly nine years. He did not surrender his first hit until there were two outs in the sixth. Millwood’s gem marked only the fourth time in 1,440 games at Coors Field that an opposing pitcher held the Rockies to two hits or less while shutting them out. Millwood’s complete game also was the first by a Mariner in 2012.
• May 27: The pinch-hit grand slam allowed by Felix Hernandez to Alberto Callaspo marked just the sixth against the Mariners in 35 years, and the first since May 6, 1988 when Pat Sheridan of Detroit hit one off Mike Jackson.
• May 30: Mariners defeated Texas 21-8, just the third time in franchise history they have scored 20 or more runs in a game. The Mariners, with 20 hits, became the first team since 1880 to score 20 runs in a game in the same season it also go perfect-oed.
• June 8: Kevin Millwood and five relievers collaborated for the 10th combined no-hitter in major league history in a 1-0 win over the Dodgers at Safeco Field. Millwood (6.0), Charlie Furbush (0.2), Stephen Pryor (0.1), Lucas Luetge (0.1), Brandon League (0.2), and Tom Wilhelmsen (1.0) tied the MLB record for most pitchers used in a no-hitter (Houston vs. the Yankees June 11, 2003). It marked the third no-hitter in Mariners history.
• June 18: Aaron Hill of Arizona hit for the cycle in the Diamondbacks’ 7-1 win over the Mariners. Hill singled in the first (Hector Noesi), tripled in the third (Noesi), doubled in the fifth (Noesi) and homered in the seventh (Shawn Kelley).
• June 19: Ichiro reached 2,500 hits (first-inning single) in the fourth-fewest games in major league history during a 12-9 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. His 2,500th hit came in his 1,817th game. Al Simmons had 2,500 hits in 1,784 games, Ty Cobb in 1,790 and George Sisler in 1,808 . . . When Kyle Seager and Brendan Ryan both hit three-run homers in the fifth inning, it marked the first time since July 30, 2003 vs. Detroit that the Mariners had a pair of three-run bombs in the same inning. In that July 30, 2003 game, John Olerud hit a three-run homer and Randy Winn a grand slam in the first inning.
• July 1: One-time Mariner farmhand David Ortiz of the Red Sox hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning, giving Boston a 2-1 win over the Mariners.
• July 3: In Seattle’s 6-3 win over Baltimore at Safeco Field, The Mariners had three Japanese players in the starting lineup – Ichiro Suzuki,  Munenori Kawasaki and Hisashi Iwakuma – for the first time in major league history.
• July 23: Mariners traded Ichiro, face of the franchise for 11 1/2 years, to the Yankees for two prospects and cash considerations. Ichiro made his debut against Seattle with the Yankees at Safeco field and went 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
• Aug. 15: Felix Hernandez threw the 23rd perfect game in major league history, defeating Tampa Bay 1-0 at Safeco Field. Hernandez recorded 12 strikeouts in throwing the third no-hitter in franchise history . . . Mariners became the first team in MLB history to throw a perfect game and have one thrown against them.  It was also the first time two have been thrown in the same stadium in one season . . . Of the 22 previous perfect games, six were by 1-0 scores, the last by Roy Halladay May 29, 2010 at Florida. It was also the fourth 1-0 win for the Mariners this season . . .Hernandez became the second Latin American pitcher to do the deed (Nicaragua’s Dennis Martinez for Montreal July 28, 1991, against the Dodgers).

MARINERS WON-LOSS BREAKDOWN

Rec.	Home	Road	Day	Night	vs. RHP	vs. LHP	Hit HR	No HR
65-70	34-32	31-38	19-23	45-49	43-50	22-20	44-32	19-38

MARINERS BATTING PROFILE

Avg.	Home	Road	R	HR	OBP	SLG	OPS	RISP
.232	.214	.246	522	119	.293	.363	.656	.246

MARINERS PITCHING PROFILE

Rec.	ERA	IP	R	ER	HR	BA	OBP	SLG
65-70	3.74	1209.0	534	502	139	.246	.307	.392

PROBABLE PITCHERS

Date	Day	Opp.	Probable Pitchers
9/3	Mon	vs. Bos	Jason Vargas (13-9, 3.90) vs. Clay Buchholz (11-4, 4.50)
9/4	Tue	vs. Bos	Blake Beavan (9-8, 4.95) vs. Jon Lester (8-11, 5.01)
9/5	Wed	vs. Bos	Kevin Millwood (4-12, 4.38) vs. Aaron Cook (3-8, 5.35)

MARINERS 2012 SCHEDULE/RESULTS

March (1-1)

Gm.#	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
1	3/28	at Oak	W, 3-1	1-0	W: Wilhelmsen (1-0); L: Carignan (0-1)
2	3/29	at Oak	L, 4-1	1-1	W: Colon (1-0); L: Kelley (0-1)

April (10-12)

Gm. #	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
3	4/6	at Oak	W, 7-3	2-1	W: Vargas (1-0); L: McCarthy (0-1)
4	4/7	at Oak	W, 8-7	3-1	W: Hernandez (1-0); L: Colon (1-1)
5	4/9	at Tex	L, 11-5	3-2	W: Darvish (1-0); L: Noesi (0-1)
6	4/10	at Tex	L, 1-0	3-3	W: Feliz (1-0); L: Beavan (0-1)
7	4/11	at Tex	W, 4-3	4-3	W: Luetge (1-0); L: Nathan (0-2)
8	4/12	at Tex	L, 5-3	4-4	W: Holland (1-0); L: Vargas (1-1
9	4/13	vs Oak	L, 4-0	4-5	W: Colon (2-1); L: Hernandez (1-1)
10	4/14	vs. Oak	W, 4-0	5-5	W: Noesi (1-1); L: Milone (1-1)
11	4/15	vs. Oak	W, 5-3	6-5	W: Beavan (1-1); L: Godfrey (0-2)
12	4/17	vs. Cle	L, 9-8	6-6	W: Perez (0-1); L: Furbush (0-1)
13	4/18	vs. Cle	W, 4-1	7-6	W: Vargas (2-1); L: Lowe (2-1)
14	4/19	vs. Cle	L, 2-1	7-7	W: Tomlin (1-1); L: League (0-1)
15	4/20	vs. CWS	L, 7-3	7-8	W: Sale (2-1); L: Noesi (1-2)
16	4/21	vs. CWS	L, 4-0	7-9	W: Humber (1-0); Beavan (1-2)
17	4/22	vs. CWS	L, 7-4	7-10	W: Danks (2-2); L: Millwood (0-1)
18	4/24	at Det	W, 7-4	8-10	W: Vargas (3-1); L: Scherzer (1-2)
19	4/25	at Det	W, 9-1	9-10	W: Fernandez (2-1); L: Wilk (0-3)
20	4/26	at Det	W, 5-4	10-10	W: Furbush (1-1); L: Porcello (1-2)
21	4/27	at Tor	W, 9-5	11-10	W: Furbush (2-1); L: Perez (2-1)
22	4/28	at Tor	L, 7-0	11-11	W: Morrow (2-1); L: Millwood (0-2)
23	4/29	at Tor	L, 7-2	11-12	W: Alvarez (1-2); L: Vargas (3-2)
24	4/30	at TB	L, 3-2	11-13	W: Howell (1-0); L: League (0-2)

May (12-17)

Gm. #	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
25	5/1	at TB	L, 3-1	11-14	W: Moore (1-1); L: Noesi (1-3)
26	5/2	at TB	L, 5-4	11-15	W: Shields (5-0); L: Beavan (1-3)
27	5/3	at TB	L, 4-3	11-16	W: Niemann (2-3); L: Millwood (0-3)
28	5/4	vs. Min	L, 3-2	11-17	W: Pavano (2-2); L: Wilhelmsen (1-1)
29	5/5	vs. Min	W, 7-0	12-17	W: Hernandez (3-1); L: Marquis (2-1)
30	5/6	vs. Min	W, 5-2	13-17	W: Noesi (2-3): L: Blackburn (0-4)
31	5/7	vs. Det	W, 3-2	14-17	W: Delabar (1-0); L: Dotel (1-1)
32	5/8	vs. Det	L, 6-4	14-18	W: Verlander (3-1); L: Millwood (0-4)
33	5/9	vs. Det	W, 2-1	15-18	W: Vargas (4-2); L: Putkoen (0-1)
34	5/11	at NYY	L, 6-2	15-19	W: Kuroda (3-4); L: Hernandez (3-2)
35	5/12	at NYY	L, 6-2	15-20	W: Hughes (3-4); L: Noesi (2-4)
36	5/13	at NYY	W, 6-2	16-20	W: Millwood (1-4); L: Pettitte (0-1)
37	5/14	at Bos	L, 6-1	16-21	L: Lester (2-3); L: Vargas (4-3)
38	5/15	at Bos	L, 5-0	16-22	W: Beckett (3-4); L: Beavan (1-4)
39	5/16	at Cle	L, 9-3	16-23	W: Jimenez (4-3): L: Hernandez (3-3)
40	5/17	at Cle	L, 6-5	16-24	W: Smith (4-1); L: League (0-3)
41	5/18	at Col	W, 4-0	17-24	W: Millwood (2-4); L: White (0-3)
42	5/19	at Col	W, 10-3	18-24	W: Vargas (5-3); L: Friedrich (1-1)
43	5/20	at Col	W, 6-4	19-24	W: Beavan (2-4); L: Guthrie (2-2)
44	5/21	vs. Tex	W, 6-1	20-24	W: Hernandez (4-3); L: Darvish (6-2)
45	5/22	vs. Tex	L, 3-1	20-25	W: Harrison (5-3): L: Noesi (2-5)
46	5/23	vs. Tex	W, 5-3	21-25	W: Millwood (3-4); L: Feldman (0-2)
47	5/24	vs. LAA	L, 3-0	21-26	W: Haren (2-5); L: Vargas (5-4)
48	5/25	vs. LAA	L, 6-4	21-27	W: Isringhausen (1-0); L: League (0-4)
49	5/26	vs. LAA	L, 5-3	21-28	W: Williams (5-2); L: Hernandez (4-4)
50	5/27	vs. LAA	L, 4-2	21-29	W: Wilson (5-4); L: Noesi (2-6)
51	5/28	at Tex	L, 4-2	21-30	W: Harrison (6-3); L: Delabar (1-1)
52	5/29	at Tex	W, 10-3	22-30	W: Vargas (6-4); L: Feldman (0-3)
53	5/30	at Tex	W, 21-8	23-30	W: Beaven (3-4); L: Holland (4-4)

June (11-16)

Gm. #	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
54	6/1	at CWS	L, 7-4	23-31	W: Jesse Crain (1-0); L: Shawn Kelly (0-2)
55	6/2	at CWS	W, 10-8	24-31	W: Wilhelmsen (2-1); L: Reed (0-1)
56	6/3	at CWS	L, 4-2	24-32	W: Sale (7-2); L: Millwood (3-5)
57	6/4	at LAA	W, 8-6	25-32	W: Vargas (7-4); L: Santana (2-7)
58	6/5	at LAA	L, 6-1	25-33	W: Richards (1-0); L: Beavan (3-5)
59	6/6	at LAA	W, 8-6	26-33	W: Kelley (1-2); L: Williams (6-3)
60	6/8	vs. LAD	W, 1-0	27-33	W: Pryor (1-0); L: Elbert (0-1)
61	6/9	vs. LAD	L, 8-3	-27-34	W: Kershaw (5-3): L: Vargas (7-5)
62	6/10	vs. LAD	L, 8-2	27-35	W: Billingsley (4-4); L: Beavan (3-6)
63	6/12	vs. SDP	L, 5-4	27-36	W: Richard (3-7); L: Hernandez (4-5)
64	6/13	vs. SDP	L, 1-0	27-37	W: Marquis (3-5); L: Noesi (2-7)
65	6/14	vs. SDP	L, 6-2	27-38	W: Volquez (3-6); L: Ramirez (0-1)
66	6/15	vs. SF	L, 4-2	27-39	W: Vogelsong (6-2); L: Vargas (7-6)
67	6/16	vs. SF	W, 7-4	28-39	W: Iwakuma (1-0); L: Lincecum (2-8)
68	6/17	vs. SF	W, 2-1	29-39	W: Wilhelmsen (3-1); L: Romo (2-1)
69	6/18	at AZ	L, 7-1	29-40	W: Miley (8-3); L: Noesi (2-8)
70	6/19	at AZ	W, 12-9	30-40	W: Furbush (3-1); L: Putz (1-4)
71	6/20	at AZ	L, 14-10	30-41	W: Cahill (6-5): L: Vargas (7-7)
72	6/22	at SDP	L, 9-5	30-42	W: Richard (5-7); L: Millwood (3-6)
73	6/23	at SDP	W, 5-1	31-42	W: Fernandez (5-5); L: Marquis (3-7)
74	6/24	at SDP	L, 2-0	31-43	W: Volquez (4-7); L: Noesi (2-9)
75	6/25	vs. Oak	L, 1-0	31-44	W: Milone (8-5); L: Ramirez (0-2)
76	6/26	vs. Oak	W, 3-2	32-44	W: Furbush (4-1); L: Miller (2-1)
77	6/27	vs. Oak	L, 2-1	32-45	W: Parker (4-3); L: Iwakuma (1-1)
78	6/28	vs. Bos	W, 1-0	33-45	W: Hernandez (6-5); L: Atchison (2-1)
79	6/29	vs. Bos	L, 5-0	33-46	W: Cook (2-1); L: Noesi (2-10)
80	6/30	vs. Bos	W, 3-2	34-46	W: Kelley (2-2); L: Aceves (0-5)

July (15-11)

Gm. #	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
81	7/1	vs. Bos	L, 2-1	34-47	W: Padilla (2-0); L: League (0-5)
82	7/2	vs. Bal	W, 6-3	35-47	W: Delabar (2-1); L: Hammel (8-4)
83	7/3	vs. Bal	L, 5-4	35-48	W: Day (5-0); L: Furbush (4-2)
84	7/4	vs. Bal	L, 4-2	35-49	W: Tillman (1-0); L: Noesi (2-11)
85	7/6	at Oak	L, 4-2	35-50	W: Norberto (1-1); L: Perez (0-1)
86	7/7	at Oak	W, 7-1	36-50	W: Vargas (8-7); L: Parker (5-4)
87	7/8	at Oak	L, 2-1	36-51	W: Norberto (2-1); L: Perez (0-2)
88	7/13	vs. Tex	L, 3-2	36-52	W: Holland (6-4); L: Millwood (3-7)
89	7/14	vs. Tex	W, 7-0	37-52	W: Hernandez (7-5); L: Darvish (10-6)
90	7/15	vs. Tex	L, 4-0	37-53	W: Harrison (12-4); L: Iwakuma (1-2)
91	7/16	at KC	W, 9-4	38-53	W: Vargas (9-7); L: Sanchez (1-6)
92	7/17	at KC	W, 9-6	39-53	W: Beavan (4-6): L: Verdugo (0-1)
93	7/18	at KC	L, 8-7	39-54	W: Holland (4-2); L: Kinney (0-1)
94	7/19	at KC	W, 6-1	40-54	W: Hernandez (8-5); L: Smith (0-1)
95	7/20	at TB	L, 4-3	40-55	W: McGee (3-2); L: Wilhelmsen (3-2)
96	7/21	at TB	W, 2-1	41-55	W: Vargas (10-7); L: Cobb (4-7)
97	7/22	at TB	W, 2-1	42-55	W: Beavan (2-1); L: Moore (6-7)
98	7/23	vs. NYY	L, 4-1	42-56	W: Kuroda (10-7); L: Millwood (3-8)
99	7/24	vs. NYY	W, 4-2	43-56	W: Hernandez (9-5); L: Garcia (4-4)
100	7/25	vs. NYY	L, 5-2	43-57	W: Phelps (2-3); L: Luetge (1-1)
101	7/26	vs. KC	W, 4-1	44-57	W: Vargas (11-7); L: Mendoza (4-7)
102	7/27	vs. KC	W, 6-1	45-57	W: Beavan (6-6); L: Guthrie (3-11)
103	7/28	vs. KC	W, 4-3	46-57	W: Millwood (4-8); L: Chen (7-9)
104	7/29	vs. KC	W, 7-6	47-57	W: Perez (1-2); L: Mijares (2-2)
105	7/30	vs. Tor	W, 4-1	48-57	W: Iwakuma (2-2); Romero (8-8)
106	7/31	vs. Tor	W, 7-2	49-57	W: Vargas (12-7); L: Laffey (2-2)

August (15-12)

Gm. #	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
107	8/1	vs. Tor	W, 5-3	50-57	W: Beavan (7-6); L: Villanueva (6-1)
108	8/3	at NYY	L, 6-3	50-58	W: Sabathia (11-3); L: Millwood (4-9)
109	8/4	at NYY	W, 1-0	51-58	W: Hernandez (10-5); L: Kuroda (10-8)
110	8/5	at NYY	L, 6-2	51-59	W: Garcia (5-5); L: Iwakuma (2-3)
111	8/6	at Bal	L, 3-1	51-60	W: Tillman (5-1); L: Vargas (12-8)
112	8/7	at Bal	L, 8-7	51-61	W: O’Day (6-0); L: Kelley (2-3)
113	8/8	at Bal	L, 9-2	51-62	W: Johnson (1-0); L: Millwood (4-10)
114	8/10	at LAA	L, 6-5	51-63	W: Frieri (2-0); L: Kinney (0-2)
114	8/11	at LAA	W, 7-4	52-63	W: Iwakuma (3-3); L: Haren (8-9)
116	8/12	at LAA	W, 4-1	53-63	W: Vargas (13-8); L: Weaver (15-2)
117	8/13	vs. TB	L, 4-1	53-64	W: Cobb (7-8); L: Beavan (7-7)
118	8/14	vs. TB	W, 3-2	54-64	W: Pryor (2-0); L: Rodney (2-2)
119	8/15	vs. TB	W, 1-0	55-64	W: Hernandez (11-5); L: Hellickson (7-8)
120	8/17	vs. Min	W, 5-3	56-64	W: Iwakuma (4-3); L: Blackburn (4-9)
121	8/18	vs. Min	W, 3-2	57-64	W: Wilhelmsen (4-2); L: Robertson (1-1)
122	8/19	vs. Min	W, 5-1	58-64	W: Beavan (8-7); L: Deduno (4-1)
123	8/20	vs. Cle	W, 5-3	59-64	W: Furbush (5-2): L: Smith (7-4)
124	8/21	vs. Cle	W, 5-1	60-64	W:  F. Hernandez (12-5); L: R. Hernandez (0-2)
125	8/22	vs. Cle	W, 3-1	61-64	W: Pryor (3-0); L: Pestano (3-1)
126	8/24	at CWS	L, 9-8	61-65	W: Reed (3-1); L: Wilhelmsen (4-3)
127	8/25	at CWS	L, 5-3	61-66	W:  Jones (6-0); L: Beavan (8-8)
128	8/26	at CWS	L, 4-3	61-67	W: Jones (7-0); L: Millwood (4-11)
129	8/27	at Min	W, 1-0	62-67	W: Hernandez (13-5); L: Hendriks (0-7)
130	8/28	at Min	W, 5-2	63-67	W: Iwakuma (5-3); L: Diamond (10-6)
131	8/29	at Min	L, 10-0	63-68	W: Deduno (5-2); L: Vargas (13-9)
132	8/30	at Min	W, 5-4	64-68	W: Beavan (9-8); L: Duensing (3-10)
133	8/31	vs. LAA	L, 9-1	64-69	W: Haren (9-10); L: Millwood (4-12)

September (1-1)

Gm. #	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
134	9/1	vs. LAA	L, 5-2	64-70	W: Santana (8-11); L: Hernandez (13-6)
135	9/2	vs. LAA	W, 2-1	65-70	W: Iwakuma (6-3); L: Weaver (16-4)
136	9/3	vs. Bos	—	—	—
137	9/4	vs. Bos	—	—	—
138	9/5	vs. Bos	—	—	—
139	9/7	vs. Oak	—	—	—
140	9/8	vs. Oak	—	—	—
141	9/9	vs. Oak	—	—	—
142	9/11	at Tor	—	—	—
143	9/12	at Tor	—	—	—
144	9/13	at Tor	—	—	—
145	9/14	at Tex	—	—	—
146	9/15	at Tex	—	—	—
147	9/16	at Tex	—	—	—
148	9/17	vs. Bal	—	—	—
149	9/18	vs. Bal	—	—	—
150	9/19	vs. Bal	—	—	—
151	9/21	vs. Tex	—	—	—
152	9/22	vs. Tex	—	—	—
153	9/23	vs. Tex	—	—	—
154	9/25	at LAA	—	—	—
155	9/26	at LAA	—	—	—
156	9/27	at LAA	—	—	—
157	9/28	at Oak	—	—	—
158	9/29	at Oak	—	—	—
159	9/30	at Oak	—	—	—

October

Gm. #	Date	Opp.	W/L	Rec.	Win / Loss
160	10/1	vs. LAA	—	—	—
161	10/2	vs. LAA	—	—	—
162	10/3	vs. LAA	—	—	—