Orioles at Mariners
After ending their longest losing streak since 2010, the Baltimore Orioles look to build on the much-needed victory Sunday in the finale of a four-game series against the host Seattle Mariners. Jonathan Villar and Anthony Santander each homered in Saturday’s 8-4 win as Baltimore snapped its 10-game losing skid.
Trey Mancini returned after missing two games with a left elbow contusion and went 1-for-4 while Hanser Alberto drove in two runs from the leadoff spot to help the Orioles win for the first time since June 11. Alberto is hitting .345 with one home run and 11 RBIs since May 20 for Baltimore, which was outscored 90-37 during its 10-game losing streak but grabbed a 6-2 lead after seven innings on Saturday. Seattle saw its three-game winning streak come to an end despite another strong showing by Domingo Santana, who went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and three runs scored. Santana has hit safely in 16 of his last 18 games to lead the Mariners, who are 18-7 in their last 25 meetings against Baltimore.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Gabriel Ynoa (0-4, 5.65 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (3-5, 5.15)
Ynoa is still seeking his first victory of the season after giving up six runs and three homers over 5 1/3 innings in last Tuesday’s 16-2 loss to Oakland. The 26-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has allowed a total of eight home runs in his last four starts covering 21 1/3 innings. Ynoa owns a 4.50 ERA in eight games (three starts) at home this season compared to a 6.86 mark in six games (two starts) away from Camden Yards.
Kikuchi is looking to bounce back after allowing six runs on nine hits over five innings in last Tuesday’s 9-0 loss to Kansas City. The 28-year-old has given up six earned runs in three of his last four starts. “His stuff is very good,” general manager Jerry Dipoto told ESPN 710. “I love his mentality. I love how hard he works at it and how much he cares. But right now, more than anything else, we’ve got to get his command back online.”
WALK-OFFS
1. Santana has four home runs and nine runs batted in over his last four games and leads the American League with 58 RBIs.
2. The Orioles purchased the contract of RHP Matt Wotherspoon from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned LHP Sean Gilmartin to the Tides.
3. Seattle C Omar Narvaez is 8-for-20 during his six-game hitting streak.