In each of his past two starts, the Mariners scored just one run when he was in the game, and that's one of the reasons Washburn goes into Thursday night's series finale against the Orioles riding a two-game losing streak.

But lack of run support has become old hat for the 33-year-old Washburn.

Since signing with the Mariners as a free agent prior to the 2006 season, he has received the fourth-lowest run production among American League starters.

Washburn is coming off a tough loss to his former team, the Angels.

A close pitch that didn't go his way ended up extending an inning that turned out to be Washburn's downfall.

With runners on second and third, two outs and a 2-2 count on Erick Aybar in the fourth inning, Washburn threw a cut fastball that, he thought, broke enough that it was in the strike zone. But the pitch was called a ball, and Aybar blooped the next pitch into right field for a two-run single.

"I thought it was a strike," Washburn said, "and if it's called a strike, we're still playing."

The Mariners need a win Thursday night to capture another series. They have won or tied six of the eight series they have played this season, the only exceptions being an 0-4 sweep against the Orioles in Baltimore and losing two of three to the Angels last weekend in Anaheim.

Pitching matchup
SEA: LHP Jarrod Washburn (1-3, 4.13 ERA)
The veteran left-hander in his third season with the Mariners has won at least 10 games in five of the past seven seasons, including 18 for the World Series champion Angels in 2002. This will be his second start against the Orioles this season, absorbing the loss on April 4 in Baltimore. He went five innings and surrendered three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out four. Washburn has lost two of his last three starts against the Birds.

BAL: LHP Adam Loewen (0-1, 6.32 ERA)
The Mariners delivered an early knockout on Loewen on April 5, scoring four runs in 4 2/3 innings. But the Orioles came back to win the game and prevent the left-hander from losing. The Mariners' double-play combination of shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt (3-for-4) and second baseman Jose Lopez (3-for-6) has given Loewen problems, but first baseman Richie Sexson and center fielder Ichiro Suzuki each are 0-for-6 against the right-hander.

Tidbits
Sexson remains one home run away from No. 300 in his Major League career and 100 with the Mariners. Four of his five home runs this season have been hit on the road. ... All systems are go for left-hander Erik Bedard to come off the disabled list on Saturday night and start against the Athletics. Manager John McLaren said that if Bedard doesn't have a setback of some sort on Friday, he definitely will start against Oakland. It will be interesting to see which pitcher is sent out to make room on the 25-man roster. ... There figures to be an update on the tight right thigh that knocked right-hander Carlos Silva out of Wednesday night's game in the sixth inning. He said afterwards that he would make his next scheduled start, but how he feels on Thursday looms large as to whether or not he does start on schedule. ... The Mariners have received (or taken) no walks four times in their past seven games. ... Raul Ibanez has eight multi-hit games this season.

Tickets
 Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• KOMO 1000

Up next
• Friday: Mariners (Miguel Batista, 2-2, 4.38) vs. Athletics (Dana Eveland, 2-1, 1.90), 7:10 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Mariners (Erik Bedard, 1-0, 3.27) vs. Athletics (Justin Duchscherer, 1-0, 1.80), 6:10 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 2-0, 1.67) vs. Athletics (Joe Blanton, 1-4, 4.32), 1:10 p.m. PT

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.