Verlander Hopes To Get Off Schneid Against Mariners
(Sports Network) - Right-hander Justin Verlander will again try to right his 2008 ship against a familiar foe, when the Detroit Tigers open a three-game series with the visiting Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park.Verlander, who's struggled to just one win in nine starts this season after winning 17 and 18 games in the past two years, is perfect in four career starts against Seattle - winning all four and posting a 2.63 earned run average in 27 1/3 innings. However, he's lost four straight since his lone win in 2008, most recently allowing six hits and two runs over six innings of a 2-0 defeat at Kansas City on May 14. The 25-year-old Virginian is just 1-3 in five home starts with a 6.14 ERA in 29 1/3 innings. For the Mariners, right-hander Carlos Silva seeks his first win since April 17. The veteran of 268 major league appearances began the season with three wins in his first four starts, but has since gone 0-2 with three no-decisions in five outings. He pitched well, but got a no-decision on May 14 at Texas, allowing five hits and two runs in 6 1/3 innings of a game the Mariners eventually won, 4-3. Silva is 5-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 12 games - 11 starts - against Detroit, walking eight batters and striking out 35 in 71 2/3 innings. On Sunday in Arizona, Randy Johnson threw seven shutout innings, and Mark Reynolds went 3-for-4, as Arizona took a 4-0 victory in the rubber match of a three-game interleague series with Detroit. Nate Robertson (1-5) held Arizona scoreless through four innings, but lost control and ended up allowing all four runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 frames, while striking out five. Placido Polanco and Edgar Renteria each had a pair of hits for the Tigers, who have lost six of seven. In Seattle, Jose Lopez hit a two-run double in the eighth inning, as the Mariners came back to defeat the San Diego Padres, 3-2, in the finale of a three-game set at Safeco Field. Lopez knocked in all three runs, while Ichiro Suzuki went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. He passed Julio Cruz into first on the all-time Mariners stolen base list with 291. Seattle took two of three in the series and has won three of its last four. Felix Hernandez pitched six solid frames, allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out five and walking one. Arthur Rhodes (2-0) pitched one-third of an inning to earn the victory. J.J. Putz picked up his fifth save of the season. Detroit won six of 10 from the Mariners last season and is 22-15 in the series since the start of the 2004 campaign.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.





