Seattle Mariners Team Report - April 17th

(Sports Network) - The top spot in the American League West is up for grabs tonight, with two of three teams vying for the lead battling each other at Safeco Field as the Seattle Mariners play host to the Oakland Athletics in the finale of a four-game set.

Both teams, along with the defending World Series Champion Anaheim Angels, have a record of 8-7, with the Mariners having fallen to that mark following a 4-1 loss to the A's on Wednesday.

Randy Winn, who finished 1-for-4, tallied the only run for Seattle, a tea, which produced just five singles in the losing effort. Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to eight games with one of those base hits.

Starter Freddy Garcia suffered the loss for the Mariners after lasting seven frames and giving up two runs on just four hits while striking out three and walking four.

The Mariners will look to Gil Meche to carry the load this afternoon. Meche has split his first two starts of the year, including a win over Texas last time on the hill. The 24-year-old righthander surrendered just five hits and three runs over 5 2/3 innings, while fanning six and walking four in the win.

Meche is 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA against the A's in his career. The righty has allowed eight hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings of action versus Oakland.

Although the Mariners are batting just .250 this season, the team's pitching staff as kept them competitive by holding opponents to .230. Unfortunately, 23 of those 119 hits allowed by Seattle hurlers have been home runs.

Mike Cameron, who set a franchise record by striking out 176 times last season, leads the AL with 20 strikeouts in his first 15 games this season and is batting just .204 for the club.

04/17 13:28:31 ET