Bedard, Mariners shut down Tigers 4-1

Bedard, Mariners shut down Tigers 4-1

Seattle Mariners' starting pitcher Erik Bedard throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning.

By TIM BOOTH, AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) - Raul Ibanez clanged a solo home run off the windows of a restaurant in right field and a pair of Seattle relievers helped finish what Erik Bedard started in the Mariners' 4-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

Jose Lopez added a key two-run double late to help Seattle win for the eighth time in 11 games.

Ibanez's 10th homer of the season broke a 1-all tie in the fourth, and Lopez sealed the victory with a two-out, two RBI double off Detroit starter Kenny Rogers in the eighth, making a winner out of Seattle starter Bedard even though he called it a day after five innings.

Bedard's habit of leaving right around the 100-pitch mark continued. Despite giving up just one run and five hits with six strikeouts, Bedard called it a day after 99 pitches and five solid innings, turning over the burden of holding a one-run lead to the Mariners bullpen.

Bedard (6-4) has not thrown more than 100 pitches since May 28, when he went seven innings in a 1-0 win over Boston. He threw 110 pitches in that game, his season high.

Fortunately for Bedard, the Mariners bullpen turned in four shutout innings, capped by Brandon Morrow's sixth save in six chances after getting the final out of the eighth and working the ninth. Sean Green was outstanding as the bridge between Bedard and Morrow, throwing 2 2-3 innings, giving up just two hits.

Rogers (6-6) managed his pitch count, but lost for just the second time since May 15. Rogers was one out from his first complete game since May 14, 2005, before running into trouble in the eighth. Jamie Burke led off with a single and Rogers hit Ichiro Suzuki with two outs. Lopez then followed with a double to deep right-center and a walk to Ibanez finally ended Rogers' day.

Rogers gave up four runs and six hits, retiring the Mariners in order in five of eight innings.

Miguel Cabrera hit his 12th homer of the season for Detroit, a solo shot in the second that sneaked just inside the left-field foul pole. Otherwise, the Tigers vaunted offense was punchless. Detroit's best chance came in the fourth when Bedard loaded the bases with three walks. Bedard escaped by striking out Ryan Raburn to end the inning. Curtis Granderson doubled to lead off the fourth and never moved from second.

The Tigers also had two runners on with one out in the seventh against Green, but a pair of grounders ended the threat.

Seattle got its first run from an unlikely trio in the third, after Rogers rolled through the difficult part of the Mariners order. Burke, whose last start was June 14, lined a leadoff double into the right-field corner. Willie Bloomquist then reached well off the plate and dumped a single into right center, and Yuniesky Betancourt followed with a fly ball deep enough for Burke to score from third.

Ibanez then followed the next inning, jumping on a 3-2 fastball from Rogers and hitting it 414-feet for just his second home run since June 1.
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