News
Vargas vying for another stellar outing
Seattle (22-26) at Los Angeles (23-22), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Jim Street / MLB.com
05/27/09 9:40 PM ET
OAKLAND -- The first three starts left-hander Jason Vargas has made for the Mariners have been spectacular. The only way the opposition has scored off him is by hitting three solo home runs, including one by Giants leadoff man Aaron Rowand in Vargas' last start. It was the only run Vargas surrendered during his seven-inning duel against the Giants and left-hander Randy Johnson. But as well as he pitched, the Mariners' left-hander had to settle for a no-decision in a game Seattle eventually won. More offense would come in handy Friday night, when the 5-foot-10 Vargas faces the Angels in a 7:05 p.m. PT game at Angel Stadium. Vargas graduated from Apple Valley (Calif.) High School, located northeast of Anaheim. Except for a tryout for an All-Star team, Friday night's series opener will be the first time Vargas has set foot on the manicured grass at the facility, and many of his friends and relatives from Southern California will be there to watch. Vargas is on roll since being promoted from Triple-A Tacoma on May 2 when reliever Roy Corcoran went on the 15-day disabled list. After two scoreless relief outings, Vargas started against the Rangers on May 12 in Arlington -- his first big league start since 2007 -- and held powerhouse Texas to one run over five innings. Vargas held the Red Sox to one run over seven innings in his next start, and he made it 3-for-3 in quality starts against the Giants. "One thing you look for in a younger pitcher is his demeanor and mound presence," manager Don Wakamatsu said. "Very rarely since he has been up here have I felt he was tentative on the mound. I think his ability to go out and attack opposing hitters has been the most impressive thing." Vargas says the main thing is good health. "I don't know if there's anything I can attribute [this success] to, except maybe being healthy," Vargas said. "I'm just trying to keep the workload consistent and keep everything the same, regardless what happens." Vargas, 26, did not pitch at all during the 2008 regular season while recovering from hip surgery, but he returned to action in the Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Saguaras and impressed the Mariners enough that they wanted him included in the three-team, 12-player trade during the Winter Meetings. Pitching matchupSEA: LHP Jason Vargas (1-0, 1.29 ERA)
The left-hander looks more and more like a keeper in the Mariners' starting rotation. He was locked in a dandy pitchers' duel with Johnson in his past outing, holding the Giants to a first-inning solo home run and a single over seven superb innings. Though not particularly overpowering, Vargas struck out seven batters and rarely fell behind hitters. LAA: RHP John Lackey (1-0, 6.00 ERA)
In his third outing of the season -- against the Dodgers on Saturday night -- Lackey stretched his arm out to seven innings and 101 pitches, leaving with a lead the bullpen didn't hold. He yielded three earned runs on seven hits and one intentional walk while striking out five. Lackey's curveball and fastball got away from him on occasion, accounting for three hit batsmen, but only one cost him a run. He's 11-8 in 23 career starts against the Mariners, and he is coming off a win against them in Seattle on May 18, when he yielded five runs -- four earned -- in five innings. Tidbits
After sitting out Wednesday afternoon's series finale in Oakland and with Thursday being a scheduled off-day, designated hitter Mike Sweeney should be available for Friday night's game. He suffered lower back spasms after sliding head-first into second base with a double in the first inning Tuesday night. With the Angels starting right-hander Lackey in the series opener, followed by right-handers Matt Palmer and Ervin Santana, Sweeney's playing time could be limited this weekend. ... Ichiro takes a 21-game hitting streak into Friday night's game. His career best with the Mariners is a club-record 25 games in 2007. Ichiro's current hitting streak is the seventh 20-plus-game binge of his career, which ties him with George Sisler for fourth on the all-time list. One more, and Ichiro would tie Willie Keeler, Ty Cobb and Pete Rose for the most in MLB history. ... Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez has nine multi-hit games this month. ... The June 6 game against the Twins at Safeco Field will be at 1:10 p.m. PT. It had been scheduled to start at 4:10 p.m. Tickets
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• Saturday: Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 5-3, 3.76) at Angels (Matt Palmer, 5-0, 4.82), 6:05 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Mariners (Chris Jakubauskas, 3-5, 6.45) at Angels (Ervin Santana, 0-2, 7.82), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Monday: Mariners (Jarrod Washburn, 3-3, 3.45) vs. Orioles (TBD), 7:10 p.m. PT
Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
