#77: Big Rally For Mariners, Who Eye Series Win

GAME: Athletics (44-33, T1, AL West, 0.0 GB) at Mariners (33-43, 4th, AL West, -10.5 GB). GAME #: 77. SERIES: 3rd of 3 games. MEETING: 13th (Mariners lead 7-5). WHEN: Sunday, 1:10 p.m., Safeco Field. STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Athletics L 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

Ever since getting a bad first start out of the way (seven earned runs in 4.2 innings at Minnesota June 2 in his first start in more than two years), Jeremy Bonderman has been a surprisingly fine addition to an otherwise inconsistent back end of Seattle’s rotation. In three starts covering 14.0 innings against the Yankees, Astros and Angels, Bonderman has allowed just two earned runs.

Unfortunately for Bonderman, the usually feeble Seattle offense has tallied just eight runs in those starts with him on the mound. If not for that, and the failures of his bullpen, Bonderman might be 4-1 right now, giving the Mariners something positive upon which to dwell.

Overall, there isn’t much, but the Mariners did manage to rally from a 5-2 deficit Saturday night and defeat the Oakland Athletics 7-5. Raul Ibanez’s 15th homer tied the game 5-5 in the seventh and Nick Franklin’s two-run single in the eighth lifted the Marines to the win, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Instead of entering Sunday’s contest with a four-game losing streak, the Mariners will have a chance to win their first series since taking two of three from the lowly Houston Astros June 10-12.

At 33-43, the Mariners are a game ahead of where they were after 76 contests last year, 32-44. Sunday, they’ll face Jarrod Parker, who is 1-1 against Seattle this season. A closer look:

SUNDAY’S PROBABLES

MARINERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 3.28 ERA, 1.13 HIP)

The 30-year old Bonderman, a Kennewick, WA., native in his ninth major league season and first with Seattle, will make his fifth start and first against the Athletics. Bonderman had a rugged beginning with the Mariners, allowing seven earned runs June 2 against Minnesota, but has allowed just two earned runs in three starts since. He took no-decisions in his last two because the Mariners couldn’t score him any runs. He’s allowed nine hits over his past 14.0 innings.

• LAST START: June 18 at L.A. Angels, took a no-decision in Seattle’s 3-2 win; 1 earned run on 6 hits in 6.0 innings; 0 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 home run,96 pitches, 52 for strikes.

• LAST VS. ATHLETICS: May 20, 2010, won 5-2; 1 earned run on 3 hits in 6.0 innings; 8 strikeouts, 4 walks, 0 home runs, 103 pitches, 65 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. ATHLETICS: 4-3, 3.49 ERA in 8 starts covering 49.0 innings;27 strikeouts, 25 walks, 5 home runs, 1.30 WHIP.

• AT SAFECO FIELD: 3-2, 3.13 ERA in 8 starts covering 54.2 innings; 36 strikeouts, 12 walks, 4 home runs, 1.18 WHIP.

• LOVES/HATES TO FACE: Bonderman has faced only three members of the current Oakland roster, and only Coco Crisp (10-for-42, .238) has had significant at-bats against him.

• CURRENT ATHLETICS VS. BONDERMAN: 11-for-47, .234 BA, 6 strikeouts, 5 walks, 1 home run, .302 on-base percentage.

ANGELS: RHP Jarrod Parker (6-6, 4.30 ERA, 1.30 WHId)

The 24-year-old Parker, a Fort Wayne, IN., native in his third major league season and second with Oakland, will make his 16th start and third against the Mariners. Parker lost to Seattle 7-1 April 2, but came back to record a 4-3  win May 11 at Safeco Field. A first-round draft pick by Arizona in 2007, Parker has won his past four decisions.

• LAST START: June 18 at Texas, won 6-2; 2 earned runs on 3 hits in 7.0 innings; 4 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 home runs, 91 pitches, 57 for strikes.

• LAST VS. MARINERS: May 11, won 4-3; 3 earned runs on 3 hits in 6.1 innings; 5 strikeouts, 4 walks, 1 home run, 85 pitches, 54 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 2-2, 5.48 ERA in 4 starts covering 23.0 innings; 21 strikeouts, 13 walks, 4 home runs, 1.30 WHIP.

• AT SAFECO FIELD: 2-0, 2.70 ERA in 2 starts covering 13.1 innings; 14 strikeouts, 8 walks, 2 home runs, 1.05 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Brendan Ryan (1-for-8, .125), Michael Morse (1-for-6, .167), Raul Ibanez (2-for-8, .250).

• HATES TO FACE: Kendrys Morales (6-for-18, .333), Kyle Seager (2-for-7, .286).

• CURRENT MARINERS VS. PARKER: 15-for-88, .170 BA, 22 strikeouts, 12 walks, 1 home run, .270 on-base percentage.

MARINERS STATS / NOTES

• CURRENT HOME STAND: Three vs. Oakland (Friday-Sunday), two vs. Pittsburgh (Tuesday-Wednesday), three vs. Chicago Cubs (Friday-Sunday). Following the home stand, the Mariners will embark upon a six-game road trip through Texas and Cincinnati.
• The Mariners overcame their largest deficit of the year Saturday to win — three runs down (5-2) after the top of the seventh.
• Nick Franklin’s game-winning RBI in the eighth inning Saturday (two-run single) was the first of his major league career. Franklin, who went 3-for-5 and drove in three runs, lifted his batting average to .295.
• Raul Ibanez is one of just nine players in major league history to hit 15 or more home runs in their age 41 season. The record for a 41-year-old is 29, by Ted Williams in 1960 (Ibanez belted a three-run shot Saturday night).
• The win by Yoervis Medina Saturday was his first since May 26.
• Kyle Seager, who went 1-for-5, extended his hitting streak to seven games. He’s batting .333 over that stretch.
• Endy Chavez, who went 2-for-5, has hit in 16 of his past 18 games.
• The Mariners will have two days off this week, Monday and Thursday. On Monday, the Mariners will hold their annual charity golf tournament at TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge.
• The Mariners recalled Franklin Gutierrez from AAA Tacoma Saturday and he responded with a home run. The club also placed OF Michael Morse on the 15-day disabled list.
• The Mariners have promoted top pitching prospect Taijuan Walker from AA Jackson to AAA Tacoma. The 20-year-old Walker will make his Pacific Coast League debut Tuesday at Cheney Stadium against Fresno, the top affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.
• The home run hit by Yoenis Cespedes in the first inning Friday traveled an estimated 440 feet, the longest Safeco Field blast by a Seattle opponent since Mike Napoli hit a ball 447 feet Sept. 23, 2008.

UPCOMING PROBABLES