GDT: 7/2/10 - DET (41-36) VS SEA (33-45) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Mariners, Tigers kick off July with weekend set

By John Schlegel / MLB.com

Two teams that liked June better than May, the Mariners and Tigers, start off July together at Comerica Park with a three-game weekend set.

After taking the American League Central lead while in Minnesota but then leaving without it, the Tigers head home for a nine-game homestand that will take them to the All-Star break.

Mainly, they're glad to be finished with a 3-6 trip to visit the Mets, Braves and Twins and heading home, where they're 25-11.

"We knew going into it we were were facing three heavyweights," Johnny Damon said after Wednesday's loss. "If we would've gotten that win today, I think we definitely would be in much better spirits. It would get us back to first place in our division."

With the Mariners followed by the Orioles before a home rematch with the Twins, the Tigers have two last-place clubs in advance of their next division showdown. But the Mariners are on the upswing, and they'll have Cliff Lee -- he of the three straight complete games -- pitching the series finale on Sunday.

In the opener, two young and impressive arms will square off, with the Tigers' Max Scherzer meeting Doug Fister, who will be making his second start since a disabled-list stint with a shoulder problem.

The Mariners snapped back from a dreadful May (8-19) to take a 13-13 mark for June after taking two of three from the Yankees in New York.

Mariners: Branyan sees more now that he's back

Russell Branyan has only been back with the Mariners for three games, but he thinks the team that employed him in 2009 is better than their record indicates. Some of it, he said, has been bad timing, with the Mariners struggling while the Rangers have played extremely well.

"It's hard to believe [we're] in last place," Branyan said. "The AL West is a division when you stumble a little bit and fall down, by the time you get back up, the teams can run off from you. Texas and Anaheim can get hot. At the same time, you can make up those games fairly quick, too. It's a bit of a surprise to see this ballclub double-digit games back. But three weeks from now, we can see ourselves six or seven games back, you never know."

Branyan has done his part since returning to the M's, homering and driving in four runs over his three games.

Tigers: Jackson evolving

Austin Jackson showed some leadoff chops with a seventh-inning bunt that turned into a run during the Twins series, a product of his study of hitters like the Tigers' Ramon Santiago and the Mets' Jose Reyes when he sat out a couple of games. Jackson said even having the threat of a bunt is key.

"Showing it makes them get up on their toes," Jackson said.

Following a great start and a bit of a June swoon, Jackson appears to be finding a comfort zone again. His leadoff single Wednesday afternoon marked his 10th time safely on base in 19 plate appearances since Saturday at Atlanta, and he scored seven times in that stretch.

Worth noting

The Mariners lead the Majors with 41 of their first 77 games decided by two runs or fewer, going 11-15 in one-run games and 8-7 in two-run games.

... Jose Lopez had his 13-game hitting streak snapped on Thursday.



Pitching matchup

TIGERS: RHP Max Scherzer (4-6, 5.26 ERA)
Scherzer will try to continue the high-powered, high-strikeout pitching that brought him back from the doghouse in June. He came an out shy of his fourth straight quality start Saturday, but still finished with 5 2/3 scoreless innings and eight strikeouts.


MARINERS: RHP Doug Fister (3-3, 2.81 ERA)
In his first start following a monthlong disabled-list stint with shoulder fatigue, Fister exceeded his prescribed pitch count of 75-80 pitches by throwing 92 in four frames. An off-day earlier in the week gives Fister an extra day's rest for this outing.


From MLB Tigers Game Notes


INJURY UPDATE:
RHP Zach Miner(right elbow tendinitis, 60-day DL on March 26),
RHP Ryan Perry (right shoulder bicipital tendinitis, 15-day DL on June 7),
LHP Bobby Seay (left shoulder strain, 60-day DL on March 26),
RHP Joel Zumaya (injured right elbow, 15-day DL on June 29).


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)


• Saturday, July 3
TIGERS (RHP Justin Verlander (9-5, 4.02 ERA)) VS MARINERS (LHP Jason Vargas (6-3, 2.80 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD 1270 & 97.1)

• Sunday, July 4
TIGERS (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (4-5, 4.36 ERA)) VS MARINERS (LHP Cliff Lee (6-3, 2.39 ERA)), 1:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD 1270 & 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

Seattle AVG
Suzuki, I, DH .332
Figgins, 2B .229
Branyan, 1B .264
Bradley, RF .218
Lopez, J, 3B .242
Gutierrez, F, CF .277
Wilson, Ja, SS .262
Johnson, Ro, C .203
Saunders, LF .211
Totals .240

Detroit AVG
Jackson, A, CF .308
Santiago, SS .272
Damon, DH .268
Ordonez, RF .314
Boesch, LF .332
Guillen, C, 2B .286
Inge, 3B .252
Avila, C .228
Kelly, 1B .211
Totals .272

First baseman Miguel Cabrera was scratched from tonight's lineup with "low back tightness," according to the team.

Inning 1
Top Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Ichiro Suzuki grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Don Kelly.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Chone Figgins flies out to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Russell Branyan on foul tip.

0-0 after .5 inning

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman Russell Branyan.


B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago pops out to shortstop Jack Wilson.


B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Johnny Damon swinging.

0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Milton Bradley flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Jose Lopez grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Don Kelly.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Franklin Gutierrez homers (8) on a fly ball to left center field.

SEA 1, DET 0


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jack Wilson called out on .

SEA 1, DET 0 after 1.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a ground ball to right fielder Milton Bradley.


B:0 S:2 O:2 - Carlos Guillen grounds out, pitcher Doug
Fister to third baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman Russell Branyan.
Brennan Boesch to 2nd.


B:2 S:2 O:2 -
Brandon Inge singles on a soft ground ball to pitcher Doug Fister. Brennan Boesch to 3rd.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila walks. Brandon Inge to 2nd.


B:4 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Don Kelly hits a ground-rule double (2)
on a line drive to left-center field. Brennan Boesch scores. Brandon
Inge scores. Alex Avila to 3rd.

DET 2, SEA 1


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to center fielder Franklin Gutierrez. Alex Avila scores. Don Kelly scores.

DET 4, SEA 1





B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago swinging.

DET 4, SEA 1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Rob Johnson walks.


B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Michael Saunders swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:2 - Ichiro Suzuki grounds into a force out,
second baseman Carlos Guillen to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Rob Johnson
out at 2nd. Ichiro Suzuki to 1st.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Chone Figgins grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Don Kelly.


DET 4, SEA 1 after 2.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Johnny Damon called out on .


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to left fielder Michael Saunders.


B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Brennan Boesch flies out to right fielder Milton Bradley.

DET 4, SEA 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Russell Branyan singles on a line drive to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:2 S:2 O:1 - Milton Bradley grounds into a force out,
pitcher Max Scherzer to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Russell Branyan out
at 2nd. Milton Bradley to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:3 - Jose Lopez grounds into double play,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Carlos Guillen to first
baseman Don Kelly. Milton Bradley out at 2nd.

DET 4, SEA 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:2 O:1 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Michael Saunders.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Russell Branyan.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Alex Avila walks.


B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Don Kelly pops out to shortstop Jack Wilson.


DET 4, SEA 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Franklin Gutierrez swinging.


B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Jack Wilson flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Rob Johnson swinging.

DET 4, SEA 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:3 O:1 -
Austin Jackson swinging.


B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Russell Branyan.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a sharp line drive to pitcher Doug Fister. Johnny Damon to 2nd.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Injury Delay.


B:0 S:1 O:2 - Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive
to right fielder Milton Bradley. Johnny Damon scores. Magglio Ordonez
to 3rd. Brennan Boesch advances to 2nd, on fielding error by right
fielder Milton Bradley.

DET 5, SEA 1




B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.



B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Chad Cordero replaces Doug Fister.



B:2 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out to first baseman Russell Branyan.

DET 5, SEA 1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Michael Saunders flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ichiro Suzuki grounds out to first baseman Don Kelly.


B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Chone Figgins singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Russell Branyan swinging.

6 for Scherzer!

DET 5, SEA 1 after 5.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to left fielder Michael Saunders.


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Alex Avila swinging and Brandon Inge caught stealing 2nd, catcher Rob Johnson to shortstop Jack Wilson.


B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Don Kelly on foul tip.

DET 5, SEA 1 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Milton Bradley grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Don Kelly.


B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Jose Lopez walks.

B:2 S:2 O:3 - Franklin Gutierrez grounds into double
play, third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Carlos Guillen to
first baseman Don Kelly. Jose Lopez out at 2nd.

DET 5, SEA 1 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Sean White replaces Chad Cordero.


B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman Russell Branyan.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
On-field Delay. (repair the pitching mound landing spot)


B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a line drive to center fielder Franklin Gutierrez.


B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Johnny Damon homers (4) on a fly ball to right field. Ramon Santiago scores.

DET 7, SEA 1





B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez called out on .


B:3 S:3 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Garrett Olson replaces Sean White.



B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Brennan Boesch singles on a line drive to center fielder Franklin Gutierrez.


B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Russell Branyan.

DET 7, SEA 1 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Jack Wilson bunt pops out to pitcher Max Scherzer.


B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Rob Johnson swinging.


B:3 S:1 O:3 -
Michael Saunders grounds out, second baseman Carlos Guillen to first baseman Don Kelly.

DET 7, SEA 1 after 7.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Casey Kotchman replaces first baseman Russell Branyan, batting 3rd, playing first base.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Defensive Substitution: Ryan Langerhans replaces right fielder Milton Bradley, batting 4th, playing right field.


B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Brandon League replaces Garrett Olson.


B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Brandon Inge swinging, catcher Rob Johnson to first baseman Casey Kotchman.


B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Alex Avila grounds out, pitcher Brandon League to first baseman Casey Kotchman.


B:2 S:0 O:3 -
Don Kelly grounds out, second baseman Chone Figgins to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

DET 7, SEA 1 after 8 innings

Inning 9
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Max Scherzer.


B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Ichiro Suzuki singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Brennan Boesch.


B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Chone Figgins singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Ichiro Suzuki to 2nd.



B:0 S:0 O:2 - Casey Kotchman lines into double play,
left fielder Brennan Boesch to shortstop Ramon Santiago to first
baseman Don Kelly. Chone Figgins doubled off 1st.


B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Ryan Langerhans walks.



B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jose Lopez on foul tip.

DET 7, SEA 1 final box score > click here <