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Mariners clash with Tigers in third test at Comerica Park

Jun 11, 2011 - 3:15 PM (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners shoot for back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a week as they settle in at Comerica Park for the third game of a four-game set versus the Detroit Tigers.

Seattle, which is 5-5 over the last 10 games, is still in second place in the American League West mostly due to the fact that both the LA Angels and the Oakland A's have fallen on hard times the last couple of weeks. Last night the Mariners managed their second win in the last three outings with a narrow 3-2 triumph versus Detroit, which means Seattle is now 2 1/2 games out of first in the AL West and within a game of .500 on the road at 15-16.

Carlos Peguero accounted for a triple and what turned into the game-winning hit, a solo home run in the seventh inning for the Mariners, as he subbed for regular outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who was given a rest day that snapped a string of 255 consecutive games played. Also stepping up for the visitors was Justin Smoak, who tallied his 11th home run of the season and Adam Kennedy, who recorded a pair of doubles.

Seattle starter Erik Bedard allowed two runs on three hits with six strikeouts over five innings, but did not factor into the decision to remain unbeaten in his last eight starts. Picking up the victory was Chris Ray, who tossed two shutout innings, while Brandon League posted his 18th save of the campaign.

"The bullpen came in and did their job," Ray noted. "It's a good win for the team."

Detroit starter Brad Penny was saddled with the loss, his fifth of the season, as he gave up all three runs on eight hits, while striking out two over the course of seven innings. Designated hitter Victor Martinez accounted for both runs for the hosts thanks to a home run in the fourth inning.

Despite the setback, Detroit is still just a game out of first in the AL Central as it trails a slumping Cleveland Indians squad.

In search of his eighth win of 2011, Max Scherzer is slated to take the mound for the Tigers tonight at home. The right-hander, who is tied with several pitchers for the second-most wins in the AL entering the weekend, has never been beaten by Seattle, picking up a win versus the Mariners earlier this season to move to 3-0 all-time with a mere 2.25 ERA.

Scherzer last pitched on Monday against the Texas Rangers and even though he lasted just five innings and gave up five earned runs, he still logged his first victory in nearly a month. The Missouri native struck out four and walked one in the triumph.

Also having a strong showing over the first two months of the season is Seattle hurler Michael Pineda, who is sporting a 6-3 record and a 2.33 ERA, the latter of which has him among the top-five in the American League.

The towering right-hander has dealt with a lack of offense from his teammates in his last two starts, with the Mariners producing just a single run versus both Baltimore and the White Sox in those appearances. On Monday Pineda gave up just two runs on five hits and a pair of walks, while striking out three in seven innings, but still the Mariners were saddled with the 3-1 setback.

Pineda is now winless in his last three outings as a result.

Seattle hurlers have been keeping the team alive through the first two months of the season, tied with Oakland for the top team ERA at 3.35. Much further down the list are Detroit pitchers, who are sporting a combined 4.20 ERA even though they are tied with the Texas Rangers for the most shutouts in the AL with eight.

Unfortunately for the Mariners, the bats have been relatively quiet in 2011 and at this stage the squad is last in the American League in batting at just .229. Even Ichiro, a career .328 hitter, is batting just .252 and has yet to tally his first home run of the year.

Seattle now leads the season series between the teams by a count of 4-3 after taking a 5-3 advantage against the Tigers last year as well.