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Tribe takes aim at seventh straight win in Seattle

Apr 10, 2011 - 3:07 PM (Sports Network) - Erik Bedard hopes to slow down the hottest team in baseball this afternoon when the Seattle Mariners try to salvage the finale of their three-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Safeco Field.

Cleveland has won the first two of this set and has won six straight games since losing back-to-back tilts to open the year. Seattle, on the other hand, has now lost six in a row following consecutive wins to kick off its campaign.

On Saturday, Justin Masterson struck out nine and allowed just one run over 6 1/3 innings to help Cleveland to a 2-1 win.

"He was filthy," Indians manager Manny Acta said of Masterson. "He had a very good fastball with his usual movement and he was able to pound the strike zone the whole night. He had a very good slider, too, that had the lefties and the righties swinging over it."

Although it is early, the Indians, who went 69-93 a year ago, are alone atop the AL Central for the first time since May 2008. The six-game win streak is also the team's longest since a seven-game run late last season from Sept. 24- Oct. 1.

Cleveland did all its scoring on the same play in the fourth inning when Asdrubal Cabrera scored on a sacrifice fly, and Shin-Soo Choo crossed the plate when Milton Bradley's throw from left field went into foul territory.

Doug Fister (0-2) absorbed the loss, as he allowed both runs in six innings.

"We've just been a hit short too many times here early on," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "We'll get better, we'll learn from it, but we got to keep grinding, keep pushing."

Hoping to keep the Tribe rolling today will be right-hander Josh Tomlin, who was brilliant in beating the Boston Red Sox his first time out. Tomlin held the Red Sox to a run and three hits in seven innings.

"Josh Tomlin was fantastic," Acta said after the start. "He was just fantastic. He kept those lefties off-balance the whole night with his four- pitch repertoire -- good changeup, good overhand curve and he spotted his cutter very well. Against a lineup like that, I think he deserves all the credit."

Tomlin beat the Mariners the only other time he faced them, holding them to three runs and seven hits in six innings last September 2.

Bedard, meanwhile, will be pitching at Safeco for the first time since July 25, 2009 this afternoon.

"It's pretty exciting," Bedard said. "It's been a long time coming, and I worked hard to get where I am right now, because of all the surgeries and rehabs and trying to get healthy and stay healthy. I'm just happy to be here and pitching for the fans and the crowd and all that."

After battling injuries for most of the last two seasons, Bedard returned on Tuesday against Texas and was saddled with the loss, as he allowed five runs (three earned) and four hits in five innings.

Bedard has faced the Indians nine times and is 2-1 against them with a 3.70 ERA.

Seattle won four of its seven meetings with the Indians last season, but the teams split the four matchups held in the Emerald City.