Blue Jays-Mariners Preview

The Seattle Mariners began the second half with a successful road trip that had them feeling optimistic about their chances of staying in the AL West race.

The first half of their six-game homestand may have dampened that enthusiasm.

Outscored 31-6 in a three-game sweep over the weekend, the Mariners hope to bounce back Monday night as ace Felix Hernandez looks for an eighth straight win in the first of three against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Seattle (51-47) went into the All-Star break four games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels and 2 1/2 back of Texas in the AL West, and a 5-2 road trip seemed to indicate the Mariners were capable of hanging with the red-hot Angels and Rangers.

It was a visit from Cleveland, however, that has dealt a blow to Seattle's chances in the race. The Mariners hit .204 in dropping all three games to the woeful Indians, but it was the 9.67 ERA that may have been a greater concern.

Seattle allowed 11 home runs in the series, including four in Sunday's 12-3 loss, prompting speculation the team may start to unload some pending free agents prior to Friday's trade deadline.

"We hope we can keep this team together when July 31 rolls around," designated hitter Mike Sweeney said. "Ultimately the future is in our hands. We come out tomorrow and play good ball who knows what will happen."

The Mariners should feel a bit better about their chances of getting off to a good start against the Blue Jays (48-51) considering they'll give the ball to Hernandez (11-3, 2.45 ERA) in the opener.

The right-hander has been baseball's most dominant pitcher over the past two months, going 7-0 with a major league-best 1.30 ERA in 11 consecutive quality starts. Hernandez has averaged 7.4 strikeouts and limited opponents to a .197 average in that stretch, allowing just three homers in 83 innings.

Hernandez won his third consecutive start Wednesday at Detroit, allowing a run and six hits over seven innings in a 2-1 victory.

"In the past there were times that (Hernandez) let some games get away from him," manager Don Wakamatsu told the Mariners' official Web site. "(This year) his consistency has been so impressive.

"He takes every batter and situation with total focus."

Hernandez is 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in four starts against the Blue Jays, all of which came in Toronto.

The Blue Jays are hitting .282 on the road, one of the top averages in the majors, a trend they'll hope to continue after batting .238 during a nine-game homestand.

That stretch concluded with two losses in three games to Tampa Bay, including a blown eight-run lead Saturday. Toronto, however, bounced back Sunday, with Scott Rolen's fourth-inning, three-run homer the key blow in a 5-1 win.

"Rolen's really been -- ever since I put him in that fourth spot -- he's just responded great," manager Cito Gaston told the Blue Jays' official Web site of Rolen, a .342 hitter in his last 18 road games. "He's been a leader out there and one of our leading players."

Rolen has never faced Hernandez.

Ricky Romero (8-4, 3.44) will go into his first start against the Mariners hoping to regain his control after a pair of rocky outings. He walked 10 over 9 2/3 innings in two starts during the Blue Jays' homestand, going 1-1 with a 7.45 ERA.

Romero gave up four runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings Wednesday in a 10-6 win over Cleveland.