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Mariners shoot for sweep of A's

(Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners shoot for a series sweep of the Oakland Athletics this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at McAfee Coliseum.

Seattle is still 6 1/2 games off the top spot in the AL wild card standings and recorded an 8-7 victory in the second test on Tuesday. Raul Ibanez belted the fifth grand slam of his career to lead the way and ended with five RBI. Ichiro Suzuki had two RBI and two runs scored in the win.

Mariners starter Jeff Weaver picked up the win after he allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over seven innings with three strikeouts.

Felix Hernandez gets the call for Seattle today and he is 12-7 with a 4.03 ERA in 27 starts this season. Hernandez is 2-0 in his last three outings and posted a no decision against Tampa Bay on September 14, allowing just one run and six hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 2-1 victory.

The right-hander, who is 4-2 with a 1.96 earned run average in seven career starts against Oakland, sports a 6-1 record with a 4.05 ERA over his last 10 trips to the hill.

In Tuesday's loss for the A's, Mark Ellis hit a bases-clearing triple and Dan Johnson homered in the club's third straight loss. Starter Chad Gaudin absorbed the loss and surrendered eight runs -- three earned -- on eight hits in four innings.

Dan Meyer will make his third career start for the Athletics on Wednesday and he is 0-1 with a 8.18 ERA in four games (two starts) this season. Meyer did not factor in the outcome of an 11-9 win over Texas on September 14, yielding six runs and five hits in just 2 2/3 innings of work.

Meyer, a left-hander, has never faced Seattle in his career.

The Mariners are 13-5 against Oakland this season.

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