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Rogers looks to continue red-hot start

Jul 14, 2007 - 2:29 PM Detroit (53-35) at Seattle (50-37) 10:05 pm EDT

SEATTLE (Ticker) - Kenny Rogers will go for his fourth win in his fourth start of the season as the Detroit Tigers square off against the Seattle Mariners in the third of a four-game series Saturday.

Rogers (3-0, 1.04 ERA) has yielded just two runs and four walks with 11 strikeouts since returning to the Tigers rotation on June 22 after having a blood clot removed from his left shoulder before the season started.

The 19-year veteran pitched 5 1/3 innings, surrendering just one run and seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in a 6-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on July 4.

The Tigers have been the major league's best team on the road, winning 13 of their last 16 away from Comerica Park and posting a 28-16 record outside of Detroit on the season.

Rogers will have to shut down Adrian Beltre, who has been one of the major league's hottest hitters recently. Beltre is 16-of-28 with four home runs and 14 RBI in his previous seven games.

The Mariners will counter with Miguel Batista (8-7, 4.54), who has just one win in his five starts since his bullpen appearance on June 10.

The 36-year-old Dominican gave up three runs and six hits with three walks and five strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics on July 5.