Mariners try to recover at home vs. Lynn, Rangers

The Seattle Mariners figure to enjoy the sight of the home ballpark after suffering through a winless six-game road excursion.

Seattle will try to recover from its worst road trip in nine years when it begins a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday.

The Mariners went 0-6 in road games against the Rangers and Oakland Athletics -- losing three games against both clubs -- to go winless in an excursion of six or more contests for the first time since an 0-7 trip against the Chicago White Sox (four losses) and Minnesota Twins (three) from July 26-Aug. 1, 2010.

Seattle was drubbed 7-1 by Oakland on Sunday to mark its worst margin of defeat during a road trip in which it was outscored 36-21.

"It was a bad road trip," Mariners manager Scott Servais, who was ejected from Sunday's loss, told reporters. "It was different ways. Some games we didn't pitch well, some games we didn't play defense that well, and some games we didn't hit. When that happens, and you can't put a good game together, you are going to have a tough road trip, and that's what we experienced."

Seattle resides in last place in the American League West. Its scorching-hot 13-2 start has evaporated and been replaced by 30 setbacks in its last 40 games.

Producing a win in the opener of an 11-game homestand might not be easy with Texas right-hander Lance Lynn on the mound.

Lynn (6-3, 4.67 ERA) has beaten the Mariners twice this season, striking out 20 in 14 innings while allowing three runs, 10 hits and four walks.

Lynn struck out nine and gave up one run in seven innings during a 14-1 win in Seattle on April 28, and struck out a season-high 11 while allowing two runs and five hits in seven innings at home last Tuesday.

The 32-year-old has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his 10 starts. He picked up wins in five of those outings.

Lynn is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts against the Mariners.

Seattle's Jay Bruce has fared well against Lynn, going 15-for-41 with three homers, two triples, one double and 12 RBIs.

Bruce stroked his 299th career homer and 300th double in Sunday's loss. His next homer will make him one of eight active players with 300 homers and 300 doubles.

Texas is 5-2 against Seattle this season and has won the past five meetings.

The Rangers blew a four-run, seventh-inning lead on Sunday when they lost to the Los Angeles Angels. It was the team's second straight loss after five straight victories.

Texas manager Chris Woodward pointed the finger at himself for the 7-6 defeat.

Right-hander Ariel Jurado was pitching well and was pulled with a 5-1 lead after allowing a one-out single in the seventh to David Fletcher.

The quick hook backfired, as Texas relievers Jeffrey Springs and Kyle Dowdy were ineffective, and the Angels scored six runs to take a two-run lead.

"This one falls on me," Woodward said afterward. "These guys need to pitch more. When they don't pitch, I don't expect them to be perfect or sharp. We've been in a lot of close games lately, and I didn't use them. That's my fault.

"It's not always about the risk of winning and losing a single game, but more about making everybody involved and keeping them sharp, too."

Seattle will start left-hander Tommy Milone, who lost to the Rangers in his club debut when matched against Lynn last Tuesday. Milone gave up two runs and three hits in five innings, striking out six and walking one. He is 3-5 with a 4.45 ERA in 11 career appearances against the Rangers.

Texas outfielder Hunter Pence is 11-for-28 with three homers and 10 RBIs against the Mariners this season. Slugger Joey Gallo also has three homers against Seattle.

--Field Level Media

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