Seattle turns to Iwakuma in finale with Nationals

(SportsNetwork.com) - Hisashi Iwakuma tries to bounce back from an awful showing his last time out and try to help the Seattle Mariners salvage the finale of their three-game set with the Washington Nationals at Safeco Field.

Iwakuma was rocked by Boston last Sunday to the tune of five runs and six hits in just 2 1/3 innings. Luckily, his offense took him off the hook and Iwakuma did not factor in the decision of his team's 8-6 win.

"He just didn't have it," Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's human."

Iwakuma is 12-6 with a 2.83 ERA on the year.

Washington, meanwhile, will turn to right-handed rookie Tanner Roark, who is 12-8 with a 2.81 ERA. Roark absorbed the loss to Philadelphia on Monday, despite a decent effort that saw him allow two runs and five hits in six innings.

It was his 17th quality start in 26 chances this season.

Washington continued its mastery of the Mariners on Saturday, as Stephen Strasburg fired 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball to help Nationals to a 3-1 win.

"If he throws it where he wants to, he can be dominant out there," Nats manager Matt Williams said.

Strasburg (11-10) struck out eight and scattered six hits for the Nationals, who have won the first two games of the set on the heels of a three-game slide.

"He was tough on us tonight," Mariners interim manager Trent Jewett said.

Washington is now 12-0 versus the Mariners since relocating from Montreal.

Seattle put runners on the corners with two outs in the ninth, but Rafael Soriano induced a game-ending groundout off the bat of James Jones to notch his 30th save of the year.

Jayson Werth smacked a two-run homer, while Jose Lobaton went 3-for-4 with a run scored in the triumph.

Roenis Elias (9-12) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks over six frames for Seattle, which has dropped three straight. Dustin Ackley homered in defeat.

This is the first meeting between these teams since 2011.