Detroit Vs. Seattle
The Detroit Tigers' run of impressive starting pitching is over and so is the team's winning streak.
Justin Verlander could start a new one.
Verlander looks to build off his first home win of the season Wednesday night when the Tigers continue their series against the visiting Seattle Mariners.
After converted reliever Phil Coke struggled in a 13-3 loss at Seattle on April 19, Tigers starters went 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA during a season-high-tying four-game winning streak.
That ended Tuesday, however, as Coke gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings of a 7-3 loss to the Mariners (9-15). The Tigers (12-11) had not allowed a run in their previous two games.
"(Coke) didn't have command of his fastball, and when he made mistakes, they hit them hard," manager Jim Leyland said after his team's season-high five-game home winning streak ended. "He's got to have the fastball under command."
Verlander (2-2, 3.50 ERA) did in his last start, striking out eight - including the 1,000th of his career - in seven innings of Friday's 9-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. The right-hander, who walked none and retired the first 11 he faced, gave up four hits and three runs - all on solo homers.
"I just felt really good," Verlander told the Tigers' official website. "Me and (pitching coach Rick Knapp) worked on something with my backswing on my arm, just to get me going a little bit quicker. I think that helped. I felt like the ball was coming out the best it has this season."
Verlander is 4-1 with a 2.10 ERA in five home starts against Seattle, but he hasn't had much success against Ichiro Suzuki, who is 15 for 41 (.366) with a double, triple and a homer off Verlander.
Suzuki, who had an RBI single Tuesday, is 8 for 18 in the last four games to lift his batting average to .304. He is hitting .368 (7 for 19) with four RBIs and four runs scored in four contests against the Tigers this season and .347 in 44 career games in Detroit.
Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak will get his first look at Verlander. Back in the lineup for the first time in eight days following the death of his father, Smoak hit a two-run homer off Coke on Tuesday.
"This had to be a special memory for him - to come back like this and hit a homer," manager Eric Wedge said. "I was glad to see him get that."
The Mariners, who are trying to win a season-best third straight road game following an 0-7 stretch away from Seattle, will start Erik Bedard (0-4, 7.71), who has lost all four of his starts this season and does not have a win since June 7, 2009.
The veteran left-hander, who missed 2010 following shoulder surgery, walked a season-high five and surrendered three runs and five hits in last Wednesday's 3-2 home loss to Detroit.
"Just a step forward," Bedard said after throwing 95 pitches in five innings. "Hopefully, next time I get through six innings."
Bedard is 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA in five starts against Detroit.
Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge has five hits in 10 at-bats against Bedard. Inge had a two-run double in the series opener and is 7 for 19 with seven RBIs in his last five home games against Seattle.
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