Tue May 6 11:02:51 2008

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Mariners to battle again with Texas

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(Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners will try to string together back-to- back victories for first time in two weeks when they again host the Texas Rangers tonight in the middle matchup of a three-game set between the American League West foes.

Seattle hasn't posted consecutive wins since April 20-22 and has gone 3-9 since that mild streak. The struggling club has a nice performance to build on tonight, however, as the Mariners used an early offensive eruption en route to a 7-3 triumph over the Rangers in last night's series opener.

The Mariners jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings, with Wladimir Balentin delivering the biggest blow via a three-run homer in the bottom of the third. Richie Sexson added a solo shot for Seattle, while Raul Ibanez ended 2-for-4 with a two-run double to help his team snap a five-game skid.

Jarrod Washburn (2-4) helped the Mariners' cause by holding Texas to three runs and just four hits before exiting after six-plus innings due to tightness in his calf.

Rangers starter Kevin Millwood (2-3) wasn't nearly as sharp. The husky right- hander lasted only three innings and allowed all seven Seattle runs on nine hits, establishing a new team record with his 10th consecutive road loss.

Milton Bradley had a two-run double for Texas, which has lost two in a row following a season-best two-game win streak, while Michael Young collected a pair of hits on the evening.

Seattle, which mustered just four total runs when being swept by the New York Yankees in a three-game series over the weekend, will take its swings tonight against journeyman Sidney Ponson. The veteran right-hander was called up from the minors to join the Rangers' injury-plagued rotation in late April and came through with a big performance in his last trip to the hill.

Against Kansas City on Thursday, Ponson fired eight innings in which he yielded just one run and six hits to lead Texas to a 2-1 decision over the Royals. It was the native Aruban's first big-league win since May 1, 2007.

In his first start since his promotion, Ponson gave up five runs -- only one of which was earned -- over 5 1/3 innings in a no decision versus Minnesota on April 26.

The 31-year-old is just 2-4 with a 4.84 earned run average in 12 career appearances (11 starts) against the Mariners. Ponson is 1-2 with a 3.90 ERA over four lifetime starts at Safeco Field.

Seattle counters tonight with a well-traveled right-hander of its own in Miguel Batista, who comes off a sharp effort at Cleveland on Thursday. The 37- year-old limited the Indians to one run and four hits over seven innings, but wound up with a no decision in a game the Mariners eventually lost in extra frames.

That effort was a huge upgrade over Batista's previous start, when he issued five walks in a little over an inning against Oakland on April 25. A groin strain contributed to his early exit, but Batista was around long enough to receive the loss in Seattle's 4-3 setback.

Batista is 4-3 with a 4.37 ERA over 12 career games (8 starts) against Texas. He picked up a save in a 4-1 Seattle victory over the Rangers at Safeco Field on April 2 after tossing a perfect ninth inning.

The Mariners have won six of their last seven encounters with Texas, including three of the four meetings held this season. The Rangers are also just 3-13 in their last 16 visits to Safeco Field.