#87: Bonderman Due For Turnaround Saturday

GAME: Mariners (38-48, 4th, AL West, -12.5 GB) at Reds (49-37, 3rd, NL Central, -4.5 GB). GAME #: 87. SERIES: 2nd of 3 games. MEETING: 2nd (Mariners lead 1-0). WHEN: Saturday, 1:10 p.m., Great American Ballpark. STREAKS: Mariners W 1; Reds L 1. TV: Root Sports. RADIO: ESPN 710, Mariners Radio Network

Jeremy Bonderman is 0-1, 6.23 ERA over his last two starts following a three-start stretch in which he dazzled with a 1-0 record and 0.90 ERA. Obviously still working out the kinks after missing 975 days (end of 2010 season) following Tommy John surgery, Bonderman will make his seventh start Saturday when the Mariners continue their three-game series against Cincinnati at the Great American Ballpark.

Game 1 couldn’t have been scripted better from Seattle’s perspective. Aaron Harang, who won 75 games in eight seasons for the Reds between 2003-10, made his first appearance at the Great American Ballpark and worked 6.0 effective innings and received stout support from his bullpen as the Mariners won 4-2.

Although the Mariners managed just six hits, two were homers (Nick Franklin, Michael Saunders) and two were triples (both by Brad Miller) as the Mariners improved to 9-1 all-time against Cincinnati.

Due to a Thursday rain-out in Cincinnati, Reds manager Dusty Baker was forced to re-configure his rotation for the series. Mat Latos, who was scheduled to pitch the opener, instead will go Saturday, pushing RHP Bronson Arroyo to Sunday opposite lefty Joe Saunders.

This means the Mariners will miss facing Homer Bailey, who threw his second career no-hitter last week, defeating Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants 3-0.

Latos has dropped two of his past three decisions but has seven victories. Hot as he’s been, Raul Ibanez probably isn’t looking forward to seeing Latos. Ibanez is 0-for-11 in his career against the right-hander.

SATURDAY’S PROBABLES

MARINERS: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-2, 4.05, 1.35 WHIP)

The 30-year-old Bonderman, a Kennewick, WA., native in his ninth major league season and first with Seattle, will make his seventh start and first against the Reds. Bonderman, attempting to come back after two years of arm problems, had his shortest stint in his six starts when he went 3.1 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) against the Cubs last Sunday. The former Tiger has never pitched in Cincinnati.

• LAST START: Jun 30 vs. Chicago Cubs, lost 7-6; 6 earned runs on 6 hits in 3.1 innings; 2 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 home runs, 62 pitches, 32 for strikes.

• LAST VS. REDS: May 19, 2006, pitching for Detroit, took a no-decision in a 7-6 loss; 7 earned runs on 7 hits in 3.0 innings; 3 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 home run, 66 pitches, 37 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. REDS: 0-1, 21.00 ERA in 1 start covering 3.0 innings; 3 strikeouts, 3 walks, 1 home run, 3.00 WHIP.

• AT GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK: Never pitched.

• LOVES TO FACE: Cesar Izturis (1-for-8, .125), Ryan Ludwick (1-for-5, .200).

• HATES TO FACE: Shin-Soo Choo (4-for-13, .308), Brandon Phillips (3-for-10, .300).

• CURRENT REDS VS. BONDERMAN: 9-for-36, .250 BA, 7 strikeouts, 2 walks, 2 home runs, .289 on-base percentage.

REDS: RHP Mat Latos (7-2, 3.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP)

The 25-year-old Latos, an Alexandria, VA., native in his fifth major league season and second with Cincinnati, will make his 18th start and first against the Mariners. Latos has lost two of his past three decisions and is coming off a 3-2 loss at Texas. He has worked into the seventh inning 10 times. He had his two best starts April 24 and April 29 when he did not allow an earned run in either outing. He had a season-high 13 strikeouts June 23 at Arizona.

• LAST START: June 30 at Texas, lost 3-2; 2 earned runs on 8 hits in 6.2 innings; 9 strikeouts, 2 walks, 0 home runs, 106 pitches, 71 for strikes.

• LAST VS. MARINERS: July 3, 2011, lost 3-1; 3 earned runs on 4 hits in 6.0 innings; 5 strikeouts, 3 walks, 0 home runs, 99 pitches, 55 for strikes.

• CAREER VS. MARINERS: 1-2, 4.00 ERA in 3 starts covering 18.0 innings; 14 strikeouts, 6 walks, 1 home run, 1.22 WHIP.

• AT GREAT AMERICAN BALLPARK: 13-4, 3.09 ERA in 28 starts covering 183.2 innings; 154 strikeouts, 51 walks, 23 home runs, 1.10 WHIP.

• LOVES TO FACE: Raul Ibanez (0-for-11, .000), Jason Bay (0-for-6, .000), Justin Smoak (1-for-4, .250).

• HATES TO FACE: Brendan Ryan (5-for-7, .714), Michael Morse (1-for-2, .500), Henry Blanco (1-for-2, .500).

• CURRENT MARINERS VS. LATOS: 9-for-47, .191 BA, 13 strikeouts, 3 walks, 2 home runs, .220 on-base percentage.

MARINERS STATS / NOTES

• CURRENT ROAD TRIP: Three at Texas (Tuesday-Thursday), three at Cincinnati (Friday-Sunday). The Mariners are in the midst of 13 games in 13 days that will take them to the All-Star break.
• Mariners are 11-11 over their past 22 games and 18-19 over their past 37. Thirty-nine of 86 games have been decided by two runs or fewer.
• Mariners are 5-7 in interleague play this season and 158-138 all-time against the National League.
• Brad Miller, who had two triples Friday, batted leadoff for the first time. Miller became the first Mariner with two triples in the same game since Carlos Guillen in 2003.
• Nick Franklin’s two-run home run in the first inning Friday was Seattle’s 20th in the opening frame this season, most in the majors.
• Michael Saunders, who homered in the second inning, had been out of the lineup for six games with a finger injury.
• Raul Ibanez, 1-for-4 Friday, has hit in 12 consecutive games. Ibanez has seven home runs in his past 11. Overall, the Mariners have hit home runs in 13 consecutive games.
• Kendrys Morales ranks second in the American League with 10 game-winning RBIs.

UPCOMING PROBABLES