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Seattle's Hernandez tames Tigers again

Apr 26, 2012 - 3:43 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Felix Hernandez made it 10 consecutive quality starts against Detroit, tossing seven frames as the Mariners downed the Tigers, 9-1, in the middle contest of a three-game series on Wednesday.

"It was incredible how he was able to work through things," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said of his starter. "They were making him work, and he had to fight through it, and he just never gave in to it."

Hernandez (2-1) allowed one run on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts, as he moved to 9-0 in his last 10 starts against Detroit. The last player to win nine decisions in a row against the Tigers was Dennis Lamp in 1989.

Alex Liddi belted a two-run homer, Dustin Ackley had three hits and three runs batted in, and Jesus Montero drove in two runs in the victory, Seattle's second in as many nights.

Adam Wilk (0-3) suffered yet another loss after allowing six runs on eight hits over just two-plus innings. Brennan Boesch hit his third homer of the season in the losing effort.

"I was rushing through everything a little bit too much today, wasn't giving myself time to get back and my arm [to] catch up. That kind of resulted in the ball being flat and up in the zone," said Wilk.

After a pair of singles in the top of the first, Montero's base hit to right, plating Ackley, opened the scoring. Seattle pushed its edge to 4-0 in the second on Ackley's two-run single and Brendan Ryan's sacrifice fly.

Liddi then launched a 3-1 fastball over the wall in left with Montero aboard an inning later, spelling the end of Wilk's evening.

Boesch got to Hernandez in the home third, leading off by taking his changeup into the seats in right.

But Hernandez then settled down, getting out of the third without another baserunner and facing the minimum from that point until he was lifted after seven frames.

Ackley doubled in Casper Wells in the fifth, while Montero singled in Austin Jackson before Michael Saunders took a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to plate three more runs.

Mariners reliever Erasmo Ramirez loaded the bases on a pair of hits around a walk in the bottom of the ninth, but got Don Kelly to foul out to end the game.

Game Notes

Hernandez walked three batters in the first inning for the first time in his career...Jhonny Peralta and Prince Fielder committed errors for Detroit...The probables for Thursday's finale are Hector Noesi (1-2) for Seattle against Rick Porcello (1-1).