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(Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays hope to salvage the finale of their three-game series with the Seattle Mariners this afternoon at Tropicana Field.

After opening the year with wins in three of its first four games, Tampa Bay has hit the skids and has dropped the first two games of this set after falling to Seattle, 7-1, on Wednesday. Jamie Burke hit a three-run home run for the Mariners and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot, while Ichiro Suzuki, Jose Lopez and Jose Vidro all had an RBI for Seattle, which entered this series on a four-game losing streak.

Jarrod Washburn (1-1) got the win after allowing a run and six hits over seven innings, while striking out two.

Rays infielder Willy Aybar doubled twice during a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, and Akinori Iwamura accounted for the only Tampa Bay RBI with a sacrifice fly. Starter Andy Sonnanstine (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings.

Getting the call today for the Mariners will be right-hander Miguel Batista, who is coming off a loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Batista, who earned a save in his first appearance of the season, was tagged with the loss on Saturday against Baltimore, as he surrendered five runs (four earned) and seven hits over five innings.

Batista has faced the Rays 21 times, five of which have been starts, and is 5-4 with seven saves and a 3.49 ERA against them.

Tampa will counter with right-hander Edwin Jackson, who had a superb season debut on Saturday against the New York Yankees. Jackson surrendered a run and five hits in six innings of that one, while striking out four and walking a pair.

Jackson has never faced the Mariners.

Seattle, which last swept Tampa from August 7-9, 2006, won four of its seven meetings with the Rays last season and is 16-8 in the series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The M's are also 7-4 in their last 11 in St. Pete.