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TEX@SEA: King Felix strikes out seven over eight

Though the returns are early, the Padres have done well so far in Interleague Play this season, winning two of three games against the Angels in the team's lone series. But San Diego is excited to open a three-game series at Seattle for another reason -- the ability to use a designated hitter.

The DH seems to be an excellent opportunity to get outfielder Carlos Quentin in the lineup without putting stress on his surgically-repaired right knee.

"This gives us an opportunity to get another bat in the lineup," said manager Bud Black. "We've been, I wouldn't say easing Carlos back in, but he's still going through a durability, stamina phase of coming back. So this allows us an opportunity to get him his at-bats and also get him off his feet as well.

"I'm sure that a number of games played this week, he'll be the DH, and you could see some different combinations in the outfield against Seattle and Oakland."

Quentin has been hot since coming off the disabled list. Though he went 0-for-4 on Sunday, the outfielder has gone 15-for-35 in the nine games he's played this season. The Padres will especially need his presence in the lineup given the starter the team is facing in the series opener against the Mariners.

Right-hander Felix Hernandez will make his first start since June 1 on Tuesday. The ace had been bothered by soreness in his back, but appears healthy now. Seattle has been cautious with its prized arm, giving Hernandez ample time to recover.

"We're actually going to wait until Tuesday for him to pitch," manager Eric Wedge said last week. "I think we feel like he could definitely pitch on Sunday, but the fact of the matter is, he's going to have six starts either way before the break, so it makes more sense to take the cautious route and wait until Tuesday."

Seattle had an off-day on Monday, so Hernandez had an extra day of rest.

Padres: Richard looking to shake off last outing
• Left-hander Clayton Richard struggled in his last start, allowing 10 hits and six runs (four earned) in a loss to San Francisco on June 6. On Tuesday, he'll be looking to regain the success he was having before that -- Richard had allowed two runs or less in three of his four previous starts.

Black wasn't particularly discouraged by Richard's performance against the Giants, either.

"Before you know it, it's 3-0," Black said. "That first inning, they hit the ball on the nose. After that, he made better pitches. Clayton didn't pitch poorly."

Mariners: League could go back to closing
• Right-hander Brandon League was taken out of Seattle's closer role last month, but Wedge said on Sunday that he could move League back to the ninth-inning role he occupied previously. Wedge said League had potentially earned that opportunity with the way he had pitched after his demotion -- before giving up two runs in one inning on Sunday, League had allowed one earned run in his last six games.

"Tom [Wilhelmsen] has done a nice job for us late in the ballgame," Wedge said. "We've had a lot of guys in the bullpen doing a nice job. We'll stay where we are today and at some point in time, sooner than later, we'll look to give League another shot at closing.

"But I'm not going to do that on a whim. I'm not going to surprise anybody. I'll have a conversation first and we haven't had that conversation."

Worth noting
• San Diego right-hander Brad Boxberger made his Major League debut on Sunday, giving up one walk, but no hits or runs in one inning. Boxberger came over last offseason in the deal that sent Mat Latos to the Reds.

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