Texas (72-70) at Seattle (67-73)

Jarrod Washburn looks to win his fourth straight home start when the Seattle Mariners continue a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

In his last three starts, Washburn (8-13, 4.49 ERA) has lasted in the seventh inning each time, giving up a total of five runs in 20 innings. Overall, he’s pitched much better at Safeco Field this year, going 6-5 with a 3.67 ERA and .245 opponent batting average in 14 starts.

He’s also made 14 road starts, where he’s just 2-8 with a 5.38 ERA and .277 OBA. The left-hander had another shaky road outing Monday when he gave up six runs over 6 2-3 innings in a 6-2 loss to Detroit.

“I didn’t make pitches that inning, and they did a good job of finding holes,” Washburn said. “I think I threw the right pitches, just not in the right spot.”

Washburn pitched well in his lone start at Texas (70-72) on May 29, but couldn’t come away with a win. He allowed two runs, six hits and didn’t walk a batter in a 2-0 loss.

After an 11-game road losing streak from Aug 10-20, the Mariners have gone 11-5 including a 7-2 win over Texas on Friday.

Richie Sexson set a franchise record with his fifth grand slam of the season, breaking Edgar Martinez’s record set in 2000 when Seattle (67-73) won 91 games.

“I’ve always felt good in bases-loaded situations because the pitcher has his back to the wall,” Sexson said. “He can’t walk you.”

Rookie catcher Kenji Johjima added a three-run shot to back fellow rookie Cha Seung Baek, who allowed four hits over seven innings en route to his third straight win.

Friday’s loss was only the Rangers’ third in 11 games against the Mariners this year. The Rangers avoided being shut out for the eighth time this season when Carlos Lee singled home a run in the ninth.

Third baseman Hank Blalock was 0-for-4 in the loss, and is hitting only .209 (9-for-43) against Seattle this season. He’s hitting .360 (9-for-25) in his career against Washburn.

Robinson Tejeda (4-3, 5.82) is 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA over his last four outings and gets the start for Texas. After a three-inning outing on Aug. 30, he gave up an unearned run and 10 hits over 6 2-3 innings in an 8-1 victory at Oakland on Monday.

“That was very important,” Tejeda said. “After I have a bad game, I don’t put my head down, I just keep working and try to beat the next team.”

The right-hander, who has never faced Seattle, improved to 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA in six starts this year on the road.

Seattle was without third baseman Adrian Beltre, who missed the game to be with his wife after she gave birth to a baby boy in Los Angeles on Thursday night. He is day-to-day.