#72: Mariners Having Rough Ride At Disneyland

GAME: Mariners (31-40, 4th, AL West, -10.5 GB) at Angels (31-39, 3rd, AL West, -10.0 GB). GAME #: 72. SERIES: 2nd of 4 games. MEETING: 8th (Angels lead 4-3). WHEN: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m., Angels Stadium. STREAKS: Mariners L 2; Angels W 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

For most of the season’s first two months, the Mariners muddled along with two starters (Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma) they could consistently count on, one they could only count on at home (Joe Saunders) and an unpalatable mash of rotational back enders they couldn’t count on at all (Brandon Maurer, Blake Beavan, Aaron Harang).

But in the past three weeks, Harang tossed two complete-game shutouts, Saunders actually won a game on the road, and newcomer Jeremy Bonderman, following a flame out in his first start in more than two years, delivered All-Star caliber outings in consecutive starts.

Naturally, with things seemingly looking up, Harang went out against the L.A. Angels Monday and pitched a stinker, getting banged around for four earned runs on 12 hits in 5.0 innings as the Mariners allowed 21 overall in an 11-3 loss.

The Mariners need to stay away from Disneyland. They have played three games at Angels Stadium this season and lost all three — 12-0, 7-1 and 11-3. In those combined 30-4 beatings, Mariner pitchers have allowed 48 hits. In its past two outings, against Oakland and L.A., the Seattle staff has allowed 21 runs on 38 hits.

Bonderman will be tasked Tuesday with taming the Angels, who had two players, Albert Pujols and Alberto Callaspo, produce four-hit games Monday. Bonderman has done well in his past two outings and will oppose Joe Blanton, who hasn’t done well all season. Blanton is the major league leader in losses with 10. A closer look:

TUESDAY’S PROBABLES

MARINERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.01 WHIP)

The 30-year-old Bonderman, a Kennewick, WA., native in his ninth major league season and first with Seattle, will make his fourth start and first against the Angels. After getting shelled in his first start (June 2) in more than two years, the former Detroit Tiger has allowed just one earned run in his last two outings covering 14.0 innings while taking his ERA from 13.50 to 3.86.

• LAST START: June 12 at Safeco Field, took a no-decision in Seattle’s 6-1 loss; 0 earned runs on 3 hits over 8.0 innings; 5 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 home runs, 89 pitches, 60 for strikes.

• LAST VS. ANGELS: Aug. 7, 2010, lost 10-1; 4 earned runs on 4 hits in 4.1 innings; 5 strikeouts, 4 walks, 0 home runs, 86 pitches, 49 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. ANGELS: 3-4, 4.62 ERA in 13 starts covering 78.0 innings; 72 strikeouts, 23 walks, 6 home runs, 1.33 WHIP.

• AT ANGELS STADIUM: 2-2, 5.40 ERA in 8 starts covering 46.2 innings; 44 strikeouts, 10 walks, 4 home runs, 1.28 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Brad Hawpe (0-for-2, .000), Howie Kendrick (1-for-6, .167), Erick Aybar (3-for-14, .214).

• HATES TO FACE: Brendan Harris (2-for-4, .500), Josh Hamilton (4-for-9, .444), Alberto Callaspo (3-for-7, .429).

• CURRENT ANGELS VS. BONDERMAN: 14-for-47, .298 BA, 13 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 home run, .333 on-base percentage.

ANGELS: RHP Joe Blanton (1-10, 5.87 ERA, 1.63 WHIP)

The 32-year-old Blanton, a Bowling Green, KY., native in his 10th major league season and first with the Angels, will make his 14th start and second against the Mariners. No Angel pitcher has paid the price for L.A.’s underachieving season more than Blanton, who leads the major leagues with 10 losses, including a 3-2 setback to Seattle April 27. Blanton collected his only win May 23 against Kansas city, but has lost three consecutive decisions since.

• LAST START: June 9, lost 10-5 at Boston; 6 earned runs on 7 hits in 5.0 innings; 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, 3 home runs, 95 pitches, 63 for strikes.

• LAST VS. MARINERS: April 27 at Safeco Field, lost 3-2; 3 earned runs on 9 hits in 6.0 innings; 5 strikeouts, 4 walks, 1 home run, 109 pitches, 67 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 8-5, 3.55 ERA in 16 starts covering 109.0 innings; 56 strikeouts, 18 walks, 9 home runs, 1.23 WHIP.

• AT ANGELS STADIUM: 2-7, 4.16 ERA in 14 games, including 12 starts, covering 84.1 innings; 59 strikeouts, 15 walks, 3 home runs, 1.43 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Jason Bay (0-for-5, .000), Justin Smoak (0-for-3, .000), Kendrys Morales (0-for-3, .000).

• HATES TO FACE: Endy Chavez (5-for-11, .455), Michael Morse (4-for-14, .286), Brendan Ryan (2-for-7, .286).

• CURRENT MARINERS VS. BLANTON: 31-for-108, .287 BA, 21 strikeouts, 8 walks, 2 home runs, .336 on-base percentage.

MARINERS STATS / NOTES

• CURRENT ROAD TRIP: Three at Oakland (Friday-Sunday), four at L.A. Angels (Monday-Thursday). Following the road trip, the Mariners will return to Safeco Field for a three-game series with the Athletics June 21-23. Seattle’s next home stand also features visits by the Pittsburgh Pirates (June 25-26) and Chicago Cubs (June 28-30).
• After going 5-0-1 in a six-series stretch from April 25-May 16, the Mariners are 3-3-4 in their last 10.
• The Mariners are 0-3 in Anaheim this year and have been outscored 30-4 in those games.
• The Mariners played without Jason Bay Monday due to a sore hamstring.
• The 21 hits accumulated by the Angels Monday were the most allowed in a game this season by Seattle.
• The Mariners have hit 46 of their 75 home runs on the road this season, a total that ranks fourth in the majors and third in the AL.
• Endy Chavez, who went 2-for-4 Monday, extended his hitting streak to seven games.

UPCOMING PROBABLES