May 6 Mariners Preview..."Washburn out to stay on top of Yanks"

By Caleb Breakey / MLB.com


Jarrod Washburn must be comfortable pitching against one of the most feared lineups of the past decade.

In eight career starts against the Yankees, Washburn has compiled a 4-3 record and a 2.59 ERA. He's struck out 33 and walked 11 in 55 2/3 innings against the Bronx Bombers, holding them to a .259 average.

Washburn will look to continue his dominance against the Bronx Bombers on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

Six of the Yankees' nine starters -- Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui, Jorge Posada and Melky Cabrera -- have combined to go 18-for-97 (.186) against Washburn.

Darrell Rasner will get the start for the Yankees. He started the season as the Yankees' fifth
starter but was soon sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he appeared in two games and didn't give up a run in eight innings.

Pitching matchup

SEA: LHP Jarrod Washburn (2-2, 2.88 ERA)Washburn is throwing the ball the way the Mariners envisioned when they signed him to a four-year, $37.5 million contract before the 2006 season. The left-hander has pitched at least six innings in all five of his starts this season, including a seven-inning performance against the White Sox last week in which he earned the win while striking out four and walking two. The two runs Washburn gave up, however, were solo home runs. He's allowed a total of four homers on the season.

NYY: RHP Darrell Rasner (0-1, 3.86 ERA) The Orioles hit Rasner hard after he broke camp this spring as the Yankees' No. 5 starter. But after that, he gave up just one earned run in 9 2/3 innings before being shipped to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Now, Rasner gets another shot against the Mariners. Rasner worked eight innings, gave up two hits, struck out three and walked two while pitching for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Player to watch

Alex Rodriguez never gives Washburn an easy out. In 36 career at-bats against the left-hander, A-Rod owns a .333 average with five home runs and nine RBIs, not to mention a .750 slugging percentage.