AL: SEATTLE (74-64) at DETROIT (75-65) <h3>Tigers, Mariners open critical weekend series</h3> <div class="pre">Seattle (74-64) at Detroit (75-65) 7:05 pm EDT</div> DETROIT (Ticker) - Justin Verlander takes the mound for theDetroit Tigers in the opener of an important weekend seriesagainst the Seattle Mariners on Friday. Verlander (15-5, 3.67 ERA) looks to continue his late push forthe AL Cy Young Award after two stellar outings. On Saturday,the hard-throwing righthander yielded one run in 6 2/3 inningsfor a 6-1 win at Oakland. After a dismal stretch from July 21-August 6, the 24-year-oldhas been outstanding, winning four of his last five starts tohelp the Tigers remain three games behind the New York Yankees(78-62) in the wild card chase. Verlander is 3-0 with 3.26 ERA three career starts against theMariners. He limited Seattle to four runs through seven framesin a win on July 15 at Safeco Field. Miguel Batista (13-10, 4.59) counters for the Mariners, who arealso three games behind the Yankees. In his last start, Batistaallowed one run and five hits with seven strikeouts but did notfigure into the decision at Toronto. The Dominican righthander defeated the AL defending championTigers on July 14, holding them to one run in six innings topick up his first career win in the series.
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">SEATTLE AT DETROIT -- LINEUPS SEATTLE DETROIT AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Ichiro Suzuki CF .352 6 58 Curtis Granderson CF .296 19 67 Jose Vidro DH .310 6 55 Placido Polanco 2B .340 8 58 Jose Guillen RF .287 19 84 Gary Sheffield DH .277 24 71 Raul Ibanez LF .284 16 87 Magglio Ordonez RF .352 26 120 Adrian Beltre 3B .278 22 84 Carlos Guillen SS .297 19 92 Ben Broussard 1B .290 7 26 Ivan Rodriguez C .277 10 53 Kenji Johjima C .288 14 55 Timo Perez LF .394 0 3 Jose Lopez 2B .261 8 54 Sean Casey 1B .285 3 48 Yuniesky Betancour SS .284 8 56 Brandon Inge 3B .241 13 61 Miguel Batista RHP (13-10, 4.59) Justin Verlander RHP (15-5, 3.67)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT WARMUPS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA (13-10, 4.59) DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER (15-5, 3.67) UMPIRES: HP - GERRY DAVIS 1B - ROB DRAKE 2B - BRIAN GORMAN 3B - PAUL NAUERT WEATHER: 80 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 23 mph, right to left</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT STARTING BATS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA AND KENJI JOHJIMA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER AND IVAN RODRIGUEZ DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: I SUZUKI (.352, 6 HR, 58 RBI) J VIDRO (.310, 6 HR, 55 RBI) J GUILLEN (.287, 19 HR, 84 RBI)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 DETROIT 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.296, 19 HR, 67 RBI) P POLANCO (.340, 8 HR, 58 RBI) G SHEFFIELD (.277, 24 HR, 71 RBI)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">SEATTLE (0) VS DETROIT (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351 J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 R Ibanez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 B Broussard 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 P Polanco 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .340 G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 M Ordonez rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .352 C Guillen ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .297 I Rodriguez c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277 T Perez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .394 S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 0 -- 0 DETROIT - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.59 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.65 Pitches-strikes: J Verlander 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: J Verlander 2-1. Batters faced: J Verlander 3. UMPIRES: HP--Gerry Davis. 1B--Rob Drake. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert. Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 23 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT CONFIRMED STARTERS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE DOUBLE BY PLACIDO POLANCO SCORED CURTIS GRANDERSON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, P POLANCO ON SECOND, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 0 DETROIT 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.277, 24 HR, 71 RBI)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ORDONEZ ON FIRST, G SHEFFIELD ON SECOND, 0 OUT CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 0 DETROIT 2 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GUILLEN (.297, 19 HR, 92 RBI)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 DETROIT 2 2 3 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: R IBANEZ (.284, 16 HR, 87 RBI) A BELTRE (.278, 22 HR, 84 RBI) B BROUSSARD (.290, 7 HR, 26 RBI)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">SEATTLE (0) VS DETROIT (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351 J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 R Ibanez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 A Beltre 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278 B Broussard 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 K Johjima c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-B Broussard). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297 P Polanco 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .341 G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277 M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .354 C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 T Perez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .394 S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 Totals 5 2 3 2 1 1 2 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (31, M Batista). RBI - P Polanco (59), M Ordonez (121). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1. GIDP - C Guillen. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 0 -- 0 DETROIT - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 4.68 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.65 WP - M Batista. Pitches-strikes: M Batista 20-10; J Verlander 10-7. Ground balls-fly balls: M Batista 2-0; J Verlander 2-1. Batters faced: M Batista 6; J Verlander 3. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert. Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 23 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 0 0 0 1 0 DETROIT 2 2 3 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER DUE UP FOR DETROIT: T PEREZ (.394, 0 HR, 3 RBI) S CASEY (.285, 3 HR, 48 RBI) B INGE (.241, 13 HR, 61 RBI)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">SEATTLE (0) VS DETROIT (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351 J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-B Broussard). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297 P Polanco 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .341 G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277 M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .354 C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 T Perez lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .394 S Casey 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285 B Inge 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 Totals 5 2 3 2 1 1 2 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (31, M Batista). RBI - P Polanco (59), M Ordonez (121). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1. GIDP - C Guillen. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 00 -- 0 DETROIT - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 1 3 2 2 1 1 0 4.68 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.63 WP - M Batista. Pitches-strikes: M Batista 20-10; J Verlander 18-12. Ground balls-fly balls: M Batista 2-0; J Verlander 3-3. Batters faced: M Batista 6; J Verlander 7. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert. Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 23 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY BRANDON INGE SCORED TIMO PEREZ. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B INGE ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: SEATTLE 0 DETROIT 3 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR DETROIT: C GRANDERSON (.297, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 0 0 0 1 0 DETROIT 2 1 3 5 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J LOPEZ (.261, 8 HR, 54 RBI) Y BETANCOURT (.284, 8 HR, 56 RBI) I SUZUKI (.351, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">SEATTLE (0) VS DETROIT (3) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351 J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Lopez 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 Y Betancourt ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-B Broussard). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297 P Polanco 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .341 G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277 M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .354 C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 T Perez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .412 S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 B Inge 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .243 Totals 10 3 5 3 1 1 3 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (31, M Batista); T Perez (5, M Batista). RBI - P Polanco (59), M Ordonez (121), B Inge (62). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1, P Polanco 1. GIDP - C Guillen. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 00 -- 0 DETROIT - 21 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 2 5 3 3 1 1 0 4.70 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.63 WP - M Batista. Pitches-strikes: M Batista 34-19; J Verlander 18-12. Ground balls-fly balls: M Batista 5-0; J Verlander 3-3. Batters faced: M Batista 11; J Verlander 7. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert. Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 23 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 1 0 DETROIT 2 1 3 5 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G SHEFFIELD (.277, 0-FOR-0, BB) M ORDONEZ (.354, 1-FOR-1, RBI) C GUILLEN (.297, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">SEATTLE (0) VS DETROIT (3) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351 J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Y Betancourt ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 10 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-B Broussard). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297 P Polanco 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .341 G Sheffield dh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .277 M Ordonez rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .354 C Guillen ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .297 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 T Perez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .412 S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 B Inge 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .243 Totals 10 3 5 3 1 1 3 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (31, M Batista); T Perez (5, M Batista). RBI - P Polanco (59), M Ordonez (121), B Inge (62). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1, P Polanco 1. GIDP - C Guillen. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 000 -- 0 DETROIT - 21 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 2 5 3 3 1 1 0 4.70 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.61 WP - M Batista. Pitches-strikes: M Batista 34-19; J Verlander 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: M Batista 5-0; J Verlander 3-6. Batters faced: M Batista 11; J Verlander 10. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert. Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 23 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - SEATTLE 0 0 0 0 1 0 DETROIT 2 1 0 3 5 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: SEA - MIGUEL BATISTA DET - JUSTIN VERLANDER DUE UP FOR SEATTLE: J VIDRO (.309, 0-FOR-1) J GUILLEN (.287, 0-FOR-1) R IBANEZ (.283, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: SEATTLE at DETROIT <div class="pre">SEATTLE (0) VS DETROIT (3) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS SEATTLE ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Suzuki cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .351 J Vidro dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 J Guillen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 R Ibanez lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 A Beltre 3b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .280 B Broussard 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 K Johjima c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .288 J Lopez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 Y Betancourt ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 Totals 10 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (J Lopez-Y Betancourt-B Broussard). DETROIT ab r h rbi bb so lob avg C Granderson cf 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .297 P Polanco 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .341 G Sheffield dh 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .276 M Ordonez rf 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 .353 C Guillen ss 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .296 I Rodriguez c 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .277 T Perez lf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .412 S Casey 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 B Inge 3b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .243 Totals 13 3 5 3 1 1 3 BATTING: 2B - P Polanco (31, M Batista); T Perez (5, M Batista). RBI - P Polanco (59), M Ordonez (121), B Inge (62). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - I Rodriguez 1, P Polanco 1. GIDP - C Guillen. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE - 000 -- 0 DETROIT - 210 -- 3 ---------------------------------------------------- SEATTLE ip h r er bb so hr era M Batista 3 5 3 3 1 1 0 4.67 DETROIT ip h r er bb so hr era J Verlander 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.61 WP - M Batista. Pitches-strikes: M Batista 41-24; J Verlander 24-16. Ground balls-fly balls: M Batista 6-2; J Verlander 3-6. Batters faced: M Batista 14; J Verlander 10. UMPIRES: HP--Rob Drake. 1B--Gerry Davis. 2B--Brian Gorman. 3B--Paul Nauert. Weather: 77 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 23 mph, right to left.</div>
