(Sports Network) - Mitch Talbot will take the hill this evening for the Cleveland Indians in the second contest of a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field.
Talbot is making his first start since straining his back against the New York Yankees back on July 29. The rookie lasted until the third inning before being removed from the game.
In his last start before the injury, Talbot worked just 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay on July 24. The right-hander surrendered five runs in the setback, but did finish with nine strikeouts.
This will be the first start for Talbot against the Mariners in his career.
As for the Mariners, they will turn to Jason Vargas, who is going for his third straight win. The last time the southpaw was on the hill, he held Kansas City to just one run on four hits in six innings of work this past Sunday.
Vargas has eight wins on the season, but he has struggled away from Safeco Field, having posted a 1-3 mark with a 4.50 earned run average in nine road starts.
This will be just the second start for Vargas against the Indians in his career. The only other matchup led to a loss for the 27-year-old, who allowed six runs on seven hits in just four innings of work.
In Friday's series opener, David Pauley notched his first career win with six solid innings and the Mariners snapped a seven-game road losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the Indians.
Pauley (1-4) allowed just two runs and seven hits while fanning five without walking a batter for the Mariners, who are 3-1 under new manager Daren Brown. David Aardsma locked down his 23rd save with a flawless ninth.
Pauley had been 0-7 in 18 career games coming into Friday.
Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and scored once for the Mariners, while Russell Branyan and Casey Kotchman each drove in a run in the win, Seattle's fourth in five contests.
Shin-Soo Choo went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Indians, losers in five of six. Chris Gimenez also drove in a run and Asdrubal Cabrera added a pair of hits.
Tribe starter Fausto Carmona (11-10) pitched well but was dealt the loss after yielding three runs -- two earned -- on nine hits and a walk in six-plus innings.
Last night's meeting was the first between the teams this season. Cleveland won six of 10 against Seattle last year.