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Verlander seeks to extend unbeaten streak vs. Mariners

Jun 9, 2011 - 3:06 PM (Sports Network) - Justin Verlander hasn't lost since April 27. Tonight he faces the team that last beat him when the Detroit Tigers open a four-game set against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park.

Verlander was roughed up a bit in that outing, as he allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in six innings. However, since that loss he has gone 4-0 and has thrown a no-hitter.

The talented right-hander won his second straight start and pushed his unbeaten streak to seven starts on Saturday in Chicago, holding the White Sox to a pair of runs and seven hits in eight innings. He also struck out seven and improved to 6-3 on the year to go along with a 3.04 ERA.

Verlander will be trying to get the Tigers back on track after they had a four-game winning streak stopped on Wednesday when they fell to Texas 7-3 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Detroit Starter Phil Coke (1-6) surrendered six runs -- four earned -- on 10 hits and three walks in his first start off the disabled list.

The Tigers, who banged out 38 hits in winning the first two games against the Rangers, lost for only the second time in their last 10 tries. They are also hitting .324 in seven games this month.

"We've had a couple bloopers down the left-field line that were hits," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "Two weeks ago, they were outs. That's the way it is. That's the way the game goes. ... When you're going bad, the balls you hit good are outs and the balls you hit bad are outs."

Seattle, meanwhile, salvaged the finale of its set with the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, as Miguel Olivo's two-run double in the 10th helped the Mariners take a 7-4 victory.

Olivo also homered in the game, as the Mariners won for the fourth time in seven games.

"He's always been the type of guy that gets big hits," Seattle manager Eric Wedge said about Olivo.

Aaron Laffey (1-1) earned the win by pitching a scoreless ninth and Brandon League tossed a perfect 10th to earn his 17th save of the year.

Heading to the hill for the Mariners tonight will be righty Doug Fister, who is 3-6 on the year with a 3.29 ERA. Fister absorbed the loss on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays, as he allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings.

Fister beat the Tigers back on April 19 and is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts against them.

Seattle swept the Tigers earlier in the year and has beaten them four straight times in Detroit.