Mariners update
Who's hot: RF Ichiro is hitting .400 this month, and .419 (26 for 62) his past 14 games. ... LF Raul Ibanez was hitless last night in the Mariners' 9-5 loss at Cleveland, but was 9 for 17 during a four-game hitting streak coming into the game. ... RHP Joel Pineiro, scheduled to start today against Pedro Martinez, has a 2.57 earned-run average in four starts in May. ... DH Edgar Martinez has a four-game hitting streak, during which he is hitting .350, with seven runs batted in.
Who's not: 2B Bret Boone has two hits in his past 21 at-bats, and is hitting .231. ... SS Rich Aurilia, who did not play last night, is hitless his past 11 at-bats.
Against the Red Sox: Ichiro is a .392 hitter against the Red Sox. ... Ibanez has a career average of just .247 against Boston, but hit .364 last year. ... CF Randy Winn is a .204 hitter against the Red Sox, .216 at Fenway Park. ... C Dan Wilson is a .206 career hitter against the Red Sox.
Notes: Closer Eddie Guardado has not allowed a hit or run in four innings over his past three games, and has eight strikeouts.
Red Sox update
Who's hot: Closer Keith Foulke has not allowed a run in his past 15-1/3 innings. The right-hander is 10 for 10 in save chances with an 0.37 earned-run average. ... LF Manny Ramirez has four home runs in his past nine games. ... 2B Mark Bellhorn has driven in 14 runs in his past nine games. ... RHP Curt Schilling, who starts against the Mariners for the first time in his career Sunday, is 2-0 in his past two appearances with a 1.93 ERA.
Who's not: Hard to find a Boston hitter in a prolonged slump, but 1B/OF Kevin Millar is just 3 for 17 in his past five games.
Against the Mariners: RHP Pedro Martinez, today's starter, is 12-0 lifetime against Seattle with a 1.00 earned-run average and 121 strikeouts in 90 innings. One of his wins came in relief. ... CF Johnny Damon batted .235 (4 of 17) against the Mariners in 2003.
Notes: The Red Sox have averaged 6.3 runs in their last 22 games. ... Foulke has converted 24 consecutive save opportunities dating to last season with Oakland.
Seattle Mariners (17-29) At Boston Red Sox (29-17), 7:05 P.m.
Pedro Martinez tries to earn his first victory in over three weeks, as he toes the rubber for the Boston Red Sox in tonight's opener of a three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners.
Martinez's last victory came on May 6 in Cleveland. In three starts since then, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has gone 0-1 with a 3.15 earned run average.
The righthander pitched six solid innings against the Blue Jays last Saturday, allowing two runs and five hits. Martinez also struck out seven batters while walking only one.
Martinez has unbelievable career stats against the Mariners, posting a 12-0 record and 1.00 ERA in 12 games (11 starts).
The Mariners send Joel Pineiro to the mound tonight and hope the young righthander can continue his recent pitching performances.
Pineiro was 1-3 with an 8.26 earned run average in April, but has posted a 2.57 ERA in four starts this month. However, the native of Rio Padres, Puerto Rico has managed just an 0-2 record in May.
Pineiro tosses seven strong innings in a no decision against Detroit on Saturday. He allowed one run and five hits, while striking out seven batters and walking two.
The 25-year-old is 2-2 with a 4.56 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox.
The Red Sox had their five-game winning streak halted on Thursday, as Oakland pounded out a 15-2 win at Fenway Park. Scott Hatteberg belted a three-run homer and Eric Chavez also drove in three runs for the Athletics.
Boston starter Bronson Arroyo (2-2) got the loss after getting shelled for nine runs -- six earned -- on seven hits and a pair of walks in only 3 1/3 innings or work.
The 13-run setback was the worst for the Red Sox since a 22-1 defeat at the hands of the New York Yankees on June 22, 2000.
Pokey Reese and Doug Mirabelli drove in runs for the Red Sox.
The Mariners, meanwhile, were handed a 9-5 setback by the Cleveland Indians. Ronnie Belliard and Jody Gerut each had three hits and an RBI to deny Seattle a three-game sweep.
Edgar Martinez ended 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored for Seattle. The Mariners were trying for their first sweep at Cleveland since May 14-16, 1991.
The Red Sox went 5-2 against Seattle last season and won the final four games in the series.
Who's hot: RF Ichiro is hitting .400 this month, and .419 (26 for 62) his past 14 games. ... LF Raul Ibanez was hitless last night in the Mariners' 9-5 loss at Cleveland, but was 9 for 17 during a four-game hitting streak coming into the game. ... RHP Joel Pineiro, scheduled to start today against Pedro Martinez, has a 2.57 earned-run average in four starts in May. ... DH Edgar Martinez has a four-game hitting streak, during which he is hitting .350, with seven runs batted in.
Who's not: 2B Bret Boone has two hits in his past 21 at-bats, and is hitting .231. ... SS Rich Aurilia, who did not play last night, is hitless his past 11 at-bats.
Against the Red Sox: Ichiro is a .392 hitter against the Red Sox. ... Ibanez has a career average of just .247 against Boston, but hit .364 last year. ... CF Randy Winn is a .204 hitter against the Red Sox, .216 at Fenway Park. ... C Dan Wilson is a .206 career hitter against the Red Sox.
Notes: Closer Eddie Guardado has not allowed a hit or run in four innings over his past three games, and has eight strikeouts.
Red Sox update
Who's hot: Closer Keith Foulke has not allowed a run in his past 15-1/3 innings. The right-hander is 10 for 10 in save chances with an 0.37 earned-run average. ... LF Manny Ramirez has four home runs in his past nine games. ... 2B Mark Bellhorn has driven in 14 runs in his past nine games. ... RHP Curt Schilling, who starts against the Mariners for the first time in his career Sunday, is 2-0 in his past two appearances with a 1.93 ERA.
Who's not: Hard to find a Boston hitter in a prolonged slump, but 1B/OF Kevin Millar is just 3 for 17 in his past five games.
Against the Mariners: RHP Pedro Martinez, today's starter, is 12-0 lifetime against Seattle with a 1.00 earned-run average and 121 strikeouts in 90 innings. One of his wins came in relief. ... CF Johnny Damon batted .235 (4 of 17) against the Mariners in 2003.
Notes: The Red Sox have averaged 6.3 runs in their last 22 games. ... Foulke has converted 24 consecutive save opportunities dating to last season with Oakland.
Seattle Mariners (17-29) At Boston Red Sox (29-17), 7:05 P.m.
Pedro Martinez tries to earn his first victory in over three weeks, as he toes the rubber for the Boston Red Sox in tonight's opener of a three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners.
Martinez's last victory came on May 6 in Cleveland. In three starts since then, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has gone 0-1 with a 3.15 earned run average.
The righthander pitched six solid innings against the Blue Jays last Saturday, allowing two runs and five hits. Martinez also struck out seven batters while walking only one.
Martinez has unbelievable career stats against the Mariners, posting a 12-0 record and 1.00 ERA in 12 games (11 starts).
The Mariners send Joel Pineiro to the mound tonight and hope the young righthander can continue his recent pitching performances.
Pineiro was 1-3 with an 8.26 earned run average in April, but has posted a 2.57 ERA in four starts this month. However, the native of Rio Padres, Puerto Rico has managed just an 0-2 record in May.
Pineiro tosses seven strong innings in a no decision against Detroit on Saturday. He allowed one run and five hits, while striking out seven batters and walking two.
The 25-year-old is 2-2 with a 4.56 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox.
The Red Sox had their five-game winning streak halted on Thursday, as Oakland pounded out a 15-2 win at Fenway Park. Scott Hatteberg belted a three-run homer and Eric Chavez also drove in three runs for the Athletics.
Boston starter Bronson Arroyo (2-2) got the loss after getting shelled for nine runs -- six earned -- on seven hits and a pair of walks in only 3 1/3 innings or work.
The 13-run setback was the worst for the Red Sox since a 22-1 defeat at the hands of the New York Yankees on June 22, 2000.
Pokey Reese and Doug Mirabelli drove in runs for the Red Sox.
The Mariners, meanwhile, were handed a 9-5 setback by the Cleveland Indians. Ronnie Belliard and Jody Gerut each had three hits and an RBI to deny Seattle a three-game sweep.
Edgar Martinez ended 3-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored for Seattle. The Mariners were trying for their first sweep at Cleveland since May 14-16, 1991.
The Red Sox went 5-2 against Seattle last season and won the final four games in the series.
