Pregame notes and lineups: Felix Hernandez tries to stop another losing streak

Can Felix Hernandez stop the Mariners’ current seven-game losing streak? Well, it may help that he’s facing the Rays. In 14 career starts against Tampa, he’s 6-2 with a 1.95 ERA. He’s 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA in nine career starts at Safeco against the Rays, including the perfect game. This season, Hernandez has stopped a four-game losing streak and a three-game losing streak.

Of course, even if Felix is, well, Felix, the Mariners’ needs to be something other than, well, the Mariners’ offense. That’s probably not an inspirational thought for Mariners’ fans. The Mariners are not so good with runners in scoring position.

“I was thinking about this last night,” McClendon said. “This isn’t my first six- or seven-game losing streak. If I’m around long enough, it won’t be my last. This game will test you, humble you, change your perspective on things, but in the end you have to stay the course. You have to continue to grind, that’s the only way you succeed in this game. We are susceptible to these kinds of slumps.”

McClendon pointed to last year’s eight-game losing streak.

“I don’t think the pitching staff last year had the depth that this one does so I feel good about that,” he said. “I don’t think the offense last year was as good as the potential of this offense. So that makes you feel good.”

Make no mistake, this is all about offense.

“We’ve actually played good defense,” McClendon said. “We’ve pitched well. We haven’t run the bases exactly like we should. But in the end, it comes down to executing at the plate and we just haven’t done it for seven days.”

Well, seven days and much of the season.

“When these things happen, everybody takes it personally and everything is blown out of perspective, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let one week define what this team is going to be this year,” McClendon said. “It’s just not going to happen. This team is going to be fine.”

As for hitting with runners in scoring position, McClendon doesn’t have some complex solution to the problems.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure this out,” he said.  “The biggest thing you have to do is a get a good pitch to hit. The second thing you have to do is actually put a good swing on it. And then you hope it goes somewhere. I know this: when you try too hard, you usually aren’t going to get it done. You have to relax.”

Lineup notes

Brad Miller gets the day off today. Manager Lloyd McClendon wanted to give Miller a day off and get Willie Bloomquist some game at-bats. The Mariners don’t face a left-hander any time soon.

Miller is scuffling of late. And a day off might not be the worst thing for him.

McClendon is sticking with Cano at No. 2, Cruz at No. 3, Seager at No. 4 and Trumbo at No. 5.

It seems likely Jesus Sucre will be starting on Sunday and catching Mike Montgomery.

Match-ups 

Here’s the Mariners’ numbers vs. Rays starter Alex Colome – not too many plate appearances.

Here’s the Rays’ numbers vs. Felix Hernandez

Game notes