Jarrod Washburn, Joe Blanton Duel In Seattle

Seattle will look to take a second straight game from the A's and open 2-0 for the first time in 11 years when the two clubs continue their three-game series at Safeco Field tonight. The Mariners (1-0) took the first meeting with Oakland (0-1) last season, but lost the next 15 matchups on the way to a 2-17 season series record between the AL West rivals.

Jarrod Washburn will take the hill after a tumultuous 2006 season punctuated by an 8-14 record and 4.67 ERA in 31 starts. The lefty struggled against the A's last season along with the rest of the Mariners, going 0-2 with a 6.88 ERA in three starts. He is a career 7-12 with a 4.10 ERA in 28 appearances against Oakland.

The Athletics are counting on Joe Blanton, who gets the start after Esteban Loaiza was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with tightness in his shoulder. Blanton went 16-12 last season with a 4.82 ERA in 32 appearances, including 31 starts, tying Barry Zito for the team lead in wins. But his .309 opponents' batting average was the third-highest in the majors.

The righty owned the Mariners, however, posting a 1.55 ERA and winning all four of his starts against them last season. Blanton is a career 6-1 with a 2.50 ERA in eight starts versus Seattle.

[MLB]