GDT: 5/26/10 - DET (25-20) AT SEA (17-28) - 3:40 p.m. ET ---
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Detroit Tigers at Seattle MarinersWednesday, May 26, 2010Safeco Field, Seattle, WA
Game Time - 3:40 p.m. EDT______________________________________
Pitching key for Tigers, Mariners in finaleBy Doug Miller / MLB.com
One of the main reasons the Tigers have been staying close to the top in the American League Central has been their bullpen. And one of the reasons the Mariners' pitching staff has been one of the best in baseball is starter Jason Vargas.
In Wednesday's finale of a two-game set at Safeco Field, the Tigers would prefer a complete-game win from starter Jeremy Bonderman -- but they will likely be very happy with a quality start and the continued excellent work by their relief corps.
Through the team's first 44 games this season, Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-4 record and a 2.34 ERA (146 innings pitched, 38 earned runs). Their ERA leads the AL, and the team is 16-0 when it has a lead through six innings.
How are they doing it, exactly? Manager Jim Leyland has some ideas.
"I think people really underestimated [lefty reliever] Phil Coke a little bit," Leyland said. "People, including myself, were not sure about the health of [Joel] Zumaya, but if you remember, in Spring Training, I said that if Zumaya's healthy, we're probably going to have a pretty good bullpen.
"Also, we picked up [Brad] Thomas, who all of a sudden has come into his own a little bit and done a good job, [Ryan] Perry has some experience under his belt, he's still a young kid and still learning, and [Eddie] Bonine has worked out exactly how we hoped until this point. He's been a savior for us. He's done a [heck] of a job."
Leyland didn't even mention closer Jose Valverde, who has not allowed a run in his past 19 outings and is tied for fourth in the AL with 11 saves.
As for the Mariners, their offensive struggles have made it a bit tougher to realize how good their pitching has been, and Vargas has been a huge part of that.
In his previous outing, the left-hander continued to shine, holding the hot-hitting Toronto Blue Jays to three earned runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings, marking the only time Vargas has given up more than four hits in his past six starts. Vargas -- who has never faced Detroit -- also leads the AL with a .193 opponents batting average.
Vargas' comments after that game speak well to summing up his surprisingly dominant season so far.
"I felt good," Vargas said. "For the most part, I was trying to get ahead early and let them swing the bat."
Tigers: Bonderman comes back homeBonderman, a native of Pasco, Wash., will make his second start this year in his home state. The first one, on April 16, didn't go so well -- Bonderman gave up 10 runs (eight earned) in four innings against the Mariners. But the right-hander has turned it around since then, notching three straight quality starts. He's 5-4 with a 5.51 ERA in 11 career starts against Seattle. ... The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 41 of 44 games this season.
Mariners: Sweeney close to milestoneDesignated hitter Mike Sweeney, who's batting .433 (13-for-30) with five homers, 11 RBIs and five runs in his past nine games, needs three RBIs to get to 900 for his career. He'll become the 26th active player in the Majors with 900 or more RBIs. Teammate Ken Griffey Jr. leads all active players with 1,836 RBIs. Sweeney is hitting .160 (4-for-25) in his career against Bonderman, although one of those hits was a homer.
Worth notingRehabbing Tigers infielder
Carlos Guillen played a full game at second base Tuesday for Triple-A Toledo and hit three doubles. His 3-for-5 performance improves his batting record to 5-for-14 through four games of his rehab assignment. Guillen has been on the disabled list since April 23, when he pulled his left hamstring running the bases.
... Mariners first baseman Casey Kotchman played his 224th straight game Tuesday without making an error. He's only the second first baseman in Major League history to surpass 200 straight games without an error, trailing only Kevin Youkilis' big league-record 238-game streak from 2006-08.
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Pitching matchupTigers: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-2, 4.43 ERA)Bonderman comes back to his home state for the second time in just over a month with a chance for revenge after the Mariners roughed him up for 10 runs, eight earned, over four innings in April. What he's really seeking, though, is a continuing of a very solid May in which he has three quality starts in as many starting assignments and has honed the bite on his slider. He struck out eight Athletics while holding Oakland to a run on three hits over six innings on Thursday for his first victory since April 10. Opponents are batting just .219 with a .561 OPS against him in day games this year, compared with .253 and .684 at night.
Mariners: LHP Jason Vargas (3-2, 3.08 ERA)His five-run season-debut aside, Vargas has been excellent, posting six-straight quality starts. He pitched well enough to win in his last outing but took a no-decision after the Mariners made a ninth-inning comeback to top Toronto, 4-3, and he's just 1-1 in May despite giving up nine runs in 27 2/3 innings across four starts.
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From MLB Tigers Game NotesRECENT RESULTS: The Tigers suffered a 5-3 loss to the Mariners last night at Safeco Field. Justin Verlander (5-3) took the loss for Detroit after allowing five runs in 7.1 innings pitched. Brandon Inge singled and belted a solo home run for the Tigers, while Austin Jackson added a run-scoring double. Danny Worth finished with a run-scoring single for Detroit. The Tigers conclude a seven-game road trip with the final game of a two-game series at Seattle this afternoon. Following an off day tomorrow, the club opens a sevengame homestand against Oakland and Cleveland on Friday night.
WINNING OVER THE WEST: The Tigers have compiled a 32-21 record against clubs from the American League’s West Division since the start of the 2009 season. Detroit’s .604 winning percentage against the American League’s West Division is second-best among league clubs since the start of the 2009 season. The Yankees have compiled a 31-19 record, a .620 winning percentage, versus the American League’s West Division.
ACTION JACKSON TAKES HIS SHOW ON THE ROAD: Austin Jackson has hit safely in 23 of his 24 games on the road this season, batting .356 (37x104) with eight doubles, three triples, a home run and seven RBI. He is fifth among all American League players with a .356 batting average on the road this season.
PAPA GRANDE POWERS THE PEN: Jose Valverde has not allowed a run in his last 19 outings for the Tigers, tossing 18.2 scoreless innings. He is tops among all American League relievers with a .127 batting average against, while he is second with a 0.46 ERA and tied for fourth with 11 saves.
ORDONEZ ON THE OFFENSIVE: Magglio Ordonez is batting .471 (16x34) with 10 runs scored, two home runs and seven RBI over his last 10 games dating back to May 13. He is tops among all American League players with a .471 batting average and .558 on-base percentage during the stretch.
BOESCH’S BOOST: Brennan Boesch is hitting .349 (30x86) with nine doubles, two triples, four home runs and 21 RBI over his last 23 games dating back to April 28. He is tied for third among all American League players with 15 extra-base hits during that stretch, while he is tied for fourth with 21 RBI, tied for eighth and a .640 slugging percentage and is 10th with a .349 batting average.
AUSTIN ADDING UP THE HITS: Austin Jackson has hit safely in 36 of his first 43 major league games. He is just the second Tigers player since at least 1920 to collect at least one hit in at least 36 of his first 43 career games. Dale Alexander hit safely in 36 of his first 43 career games in 1929.
LOOKING AT THE ROOKIE LEADERS: Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch have both enjoyed success during their rookie campaigns.
Jackson is tops among all American League rookies with 31 runs scored and 60 hits, while he is second with a .333 batting average. Boesch is leading all league rookies with a .337 batting average and 22 RBI, while he is tied for the lead with four home runs and is second with 33 hits.BULLISH BEHAVIOR: Through the club’s first 45 games this season, Tigers relievers have compiled an 11-4 record and 2.33 ERA (146.2IP/38ER).
Tigers relievers lead the American League a 2.33 ERA, while the club is second with 11 victories and 146.2 innings pitched.EXTRA, EXTRA: The Tigers have collected at least one extra-base hit in 42 of the club’s 45 games this season. Detroit is fourth among all American League clubs with 143 extrabase hits this season. Additionally, the Tigers are third in the league with 100 doubles.
TIGERS-INDIANS GAME RESCHEDULED: The Tigers game at Cleveland postponed due to rain on May 7 has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 17 at 1:05 p.m. The game will be part of a day-night doubleheader with the night game being the regularly scheduled game at 7:05 p.m.
GUILLEN’S INJURY REHAB ASSIGNMENT WITH TOLEDO: Carlos Guillen joined Triple A Toledo to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment on Saturday.
He has played in four games with the Mud Hens, hitting .357 (5x14) with five runs scored, three doubles, a home run, two RBI and three walks. Guillen has been sidelined since April 23 with a left hamstring strain.
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Up next (Probable Pitchers)• Thursday, May 27: OFF DAY• Friday, May 28Tigers (LHP
Dontrelle Willis (1-2, 4.97 ERA))
VS Athletics (RHP
Ben Sheets (2-3, 5.04 ERA)),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Saturday, May 29Tigers (RHP
Rick Porcello (4-4, 5.58 ERA))
VS Athletics (To be announced ),
7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Sunday, May 30Tigers (RHP
Armando Galarraga (1-1, 5.23) ERA))
VS Athletics (LHP
Dallas Braden (4-4, 3.23 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)• Monday, May 31Tigers (RHP
Justin Verlander (5-3, 3.74 ERA))
VS Athletics (RHP
Trevor Cahill (2-2, 3.68 ERA)),
1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD / 1270 & 97.1)