Padres at Mariners
After beginning their road trip by dropping three of four to the National League-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Diego Padres took out their frustrations Tuesday on the Seattle Mariners. They look to complete a sweep of the two-game interleague series when they visit the Mariners on Wednesday.
The Padres were on the verge of earning a split against Los Angeles but squandered a late three-run lead Sunday en route to an 11-10 defeat. No one could blame manager Andy Green if he got nervous Tuesday as San Diego watched its 8-0 lead get sliced in half in the eighth inning before emerging with a 9-4 victory. Rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his 20th homer of the year and has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 contests. Seattle rookie Tim Lopes returned to action after missing time with a concussion and belted a two-run shot in his third major-league game as the Mariners suffered their fifth straight loss following a six-game winning streak.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (7-6, 4.23 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Yusei Kikuchi (4-8, 5.49)
Lucchesi fell to 0-2 over his last four starts Thursday as he yielded four runs on four hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. It marked only the second time in six turns the 26-year-old Californian gave up more than three runs, although he has recorded only one victory in that span. Lucchesi faced Seattle twice as rookie last season, allowing four runs while registering 12 strikeouts over 11 2/3 frames en route to a pair of wins.
Kikuchi's struggles continued Friday in Houston, where he suffered the loss after being tagged for six runs and nine hits (four homers) over four innings. The 28-year-old native of Japan has won once in his last 12 outings, surrendering five or more runs seven times while working more than five frames in three turns during that span. Kikuchi will be facing San Diego - and a National League opponent - for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners INF-OF Tim Beckham, who batted .237 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs in 88 contests this season, was suspended 80 games by the league after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug (Stanozolol).
2. San Diego 1B Eric Hosmer has recorded two homers and seven RBIs over his last two contests.
3. Seattle also activated RHP Brandon Brennan (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list, optioned RHP Gerson Bautista to Triple-A Tacoma and lost RHP David McKay to Detroit via waivers.