Currently: - Game info: 2:05 pm EDT Thu Jun 24, 2004
- TV: KDFI
Joel Pineiro is starting to look more like the pitcher that won 16 games a year ago, as opposed to the one that lost a career-high seven straight recently.
The 25-year-old right-hander will try to help the Seattle Mariners avoid being swept at Texas for the second time this season as the teams complete a three-game series.
After finishing 16-11 with a 3.78 last season, Pineiro is off to a slow start. He didn’t win in a span of nine starts, losing seven straight decisions from April 23-June 8.
Pineiro has since won consecutive starts, giving up just two runs over 16 innings. This includes Saturday’s 5-1 victory at Pittsburgh during which he allowed one run and four hits over eight innings.
“I hope I get on a good streak and hopefully win some ballgames and try to get back in it,” Pineiro said.
The Mariners lost its second in a row in this series with Wednesday’s 6-3 decision, their sixth in the last 16 games overall. Rich Aurilia homered and Jolbert Cabrera had three hits for the Mariners, which lost their sixth straight at Texas, including a three-game sweep from April 23-25.
“For whatever reason, we have a tough time against these guys,” Seattle starter Ryan Franklin said. “We have to find a way to get a win before we get out of here.”
The Rangers have won five in a row to match their season high recorded from April 29-May 3.
Texas, coming off four straight last-place finishes in the AL West, is 10 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 1999 season, when it last went to the playoffs.
Lookout Landing
Lone Star Ball
