Seattle, San Diego look to maintain momentum in short series

The San Diego Padres host the Seattle Mariners on Monday to open a two-game collection between groups attempting to proceed their push to move into the All-Star break in rivalry.

The Padres return dwelling after scoring 4 runs within the prime of the ninth Sunday to rally from a 1-0 deficit to tug out a 4-2 win in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers to salvage the final recreation of the four-game set after dropping the primary three to the Nationwide League West Division leaders.

“That was a giant win,” mentioned Padres supervisor Bob Melvin, whose group completed the primary half with a 47-34 document. “After dropping the primary three video games within the collection and trailing 1-0 into the ninth, we bought a much-needed increase.

The Mariners’ 2-1 win over visiting Oakland was their fifth win of their previous six video games and tenth victory of their previous 13 video games. Seattle has received its previous 4 collection after taking three of 4 video games in opposition to the A’s.

“Pitching was the title in the present day as it has been all season,” mentioned Mariners supervisor Scott Servais after his group reached the midpoint with a 39-42 mark after being 29-39 on June 19.

Proper-hander Chris Flexen (4-8, 4.32 ERA) will begin for Seattle. He is coming off permitting three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in six innings throughout a 9-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.

Nevertheless, Flexen is 0-2 with a 21.21 ERA, having allowed 12 runs (11 earned) to go together with three strikeouts and 5 walks in 4 2/3 innings spanning two appearances in his profession in opposition to the Padres.

San Diego is countering with left-hander Sean Manaea (3-3, 3.92 ERA). He is 8-6 with a 3.46 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 27 walks in 15 appearances (all begins) spanning 93 2/3 innings all-time in opposition to the Mariners.

The Padres are 3-2 in Manaea’s final 5 begins, through which he has a 3.72 ERA and has given up three or fewer runs in 4 of these video games.

For the Padres, these video games in opposition to the Mariners are their solely two exterior the Nationwide League West throughout a 19-game stretch main as much as the All-Star break. The Padres are 2-4 to date in street collection in opposition to the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. Up subsequent after the Mariners is a four-game set in opposition to the Giants in San Diego.

The Padres swept a three-game collection in opposition to the Mariners in San Diego final yr.

However the Mariners did not have middle fielder Julio Rodriguez.

Days after being named the American League Rookie of the Month for a second straight month, Rodriguez homered on the primary pitch of the sport Sunday earlier than driving in what turned out to be the decisive run with a double within the sixth inning.

“We point out his title virtually day by day,” Servais mentioned of Rodriguez. “Keep watch over him. He is a whole lot of enjoyable to look at and he is carrying us.”

In the meantime, Manny Machado is again at third for the Padres two weeks after gruesomely turning his ankle in Colorado.