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TEX@SF: Vogelsong hurls 7 2/3 strong innings

The Mariners and Giants both know what historic pitching performances look like from a first-hand perspective.

Within the last week, each team has no-hit an opponent. Six Mariners no-hit the Dodgers last Friday, and Matt Cain tossed a perfect game for the Giants against the Astros on Wednesday.

The clubs will meet in a pitching-heavy Interleague series in Seattle with Ryan Vogelsong and Jason Vargas on the mound for the opener Friday.

Vogelsong is coming off a stellar start for the Giants in which he threw 7 2/3 innings of one-run, three-hit ball against the Rangers in a 5-2 victory last Saturday.

"I'm getting a little bit better where I can have more conversation [on] game day," Vogelsong said after the game. "I try not to have a lot, because once I get in game mode, I kind of like to stay there instead of bouncing in and out. It's just trying to be focused and make sure I'm 100 percent committed to make pitches. ... [Teammates] give me a hard time about it, but that's the way I have to be."

The win marked Vogelsong's fifth consecutive victory after starting the season 0-2. The Giants have triumphed in his last seven starts. Vogelsong also lowered his ERA to 2.26, the NL's third-best, and he has worked at least six innings in all 11 of his starts.

Vargas' last two starts haven't been memorable. Even though he is 1-1 in them, Vargas surrendered nine earned runs over a combined 11 2/3 innings in outings against the Angels and Dodgers.

Giants: Blanco saves perfect game
With no outs in the seventh and a perfect game riding on every pitch Wednesday night, Houston's Jordan Schafer hit a Cain offering deep into the right-center-field gap.

Gregor Blanco, though, saved the night, making a remarkable catch to keep Cain's run at a historic gem alive.

"I just put my head down and looked up and saw Blanco -- he was relentless," manager Bruce Bochy said.

Several of Blanco's teammates said to him afterward that it was one of the greatest plays they had ever seen, and Blanco said he couldn't disagree, saying it was the best play he had ever made.

"For me, it was," Blanco said. "It was a big deal right there in that moment. We only try to bring confidence to these guys to do what [Cain] did today."

Mariners: Montero seeing more time behind plate
• Getting his second straight start behind the plate on Thursday, Jesus Montero continues to learn the ropes as he splits time with Miguel Olivo at catcher.

While Seattle manager Eric Wedge said Montero still isn't ready to catch every day, he's continued to improve since the spring.

"Like we've talked about all year, he's just not ready to catch every day. We're working him in how we feel like is appropriate for him to be an every day catcher sooner than later," Wedge said. "Even if it's just once or twice a week, or whatever it may be. He needs to be able to handle that and be the best he can be DH wise, too. This is a good year for him to continue to be better prepared for that. I feel like he's gotten better, just from what I've seen from his work day and his routine."

• Shortstop Brendan Ryan got a second straight day off Thursday as Wedge said he wanted to give Ryan time to work on some things in the batting cage as well as get a longer look at utility player Munenori Kawasaki at shortstop.

Worth noting

• The Mariners have held a lead in 19 of their 38 losses, leading the Majors.

• Cain threw the most pitches ever in a perfect game with 125 on Wednesday. The previous high was 120 by David Wells in 1998.

• Saturday will be Fight Hunger Night at Safeco, with the Mariners and Northwest Harvest collecting non-perishable food items and donations outside the park prior to the 7:10 p.m. game against the Giants.

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