GDT151: 9/17/13 - DET (87-63) VS SEA (66-84) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Anibal Sanchez (14-7, 2.50 ERA)

Sanchez leads the American League with a 2.50 ERA and has won his last seven starts. He struck out 10 in 7 1/3 shutout innings versus the White Sox last Wednesday and hasn't allowed a run in 13 2/3 innings.



Mariners: RHP Brandon Maurer (4-8, 7.18 ERA)

The rookie right-hander moved back into a starting role last week and gave up seven hits and five runs in three innings while losing to the Astros. Maurer opened the year in the rotation and is 2-8 with a 7.39 ERA in 11 starts.




Sanchez out to reduce Tigers' magic number
After taking loss in previous start, Maurer looks to rebound in Detroit

By Jacob Thorpe / MLB.com | 9/16/2013 11:36 PM ET

The Tigers have a six-game lead over the Indians in the American League Central, but that doesn't mean that manager Jim Leyland is taking any chances in his club's second game against the Mariners, who sit 18 games below .500.

"They got some juice in there with [Kendrys] Morales, [Justin] Smoak and [Raul] Ibanez, evidently," Leyland said. "They're playing some young kids that are very talented and typical young players. One day they play like world beaters, the next day they don't, hopefully they won't against us."

That inconsistency aptly describes the play of starting pitcher Brandon Maurer, who the Mariners will send to the mound for Tuesday's game. The 23-year-old is 2-8 with a 7.39 ERA in 11 starts and 2-0 with a 6.64 ERA in eight relief appearances.

Maurer pitched a 1-2-3 first inning Wednesday against the Astros, but he then got in trouble and couldn't turn things back around. Manager Eric Wedge said the youngster needs to learn to work his way out of trouble.

"I think the biggest thing is, when he's going good, he's going good," Wedge said. "But if there's a bump in the road or something doesn't go his way, that's when he has to sustain the level of concentration and positive attitude he has to have to work through that. He needs to slow things down and kind of baby step through it.

"Then you control damage and get through that inning and get to the next one without having them put up a big crooked number or anything like that. It's just something where you work through it and get back out there. But that's just part of his maturation."

Maurer will likely need to keep the potent Detroit offense down for the Mariners to keep it close, as the Tigers will start Anibal Sanchez, the AL leader in ERA. Sanchez has won his last seven starts, and is riding a 13 2/3 innings scoreless streak.

Sanchez is looking forward to getting back to the playoffs. "It's exciting, because we've been in first place all season long," said Sanchez. "We need to continue playing like that, just try to clinch really early. We need to continue to play hard. We need to finish strong."

However, Sanchez isn't looking too far ahead.

"I don't think too much about what's going to happen in October," he said. "I think more about what's going to happen in five days. I need to keep working. I don't think too much about what's going to happen later. I need to prepare outing by outing."

Mariners: Felix won't face Tigers
Before Monday's game, Leyland spoke of the danger of facing Seattle when one of the Mariners' two All-Star starting pitchers was on the mound.

"When they pitch Felix [Hernandez] and those kind of guys, they're as good as anybody," said Leyland.

The Tigers skipper won't have to worry about facing Hernandez, as the 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner won't pitch until this weekend in Anaheim at the earliest. Hernandez threw a bullpen session before Monday's game after straining an oblique during a Sept. 2 game against the Royals.

"Because he hadn't been on the mound is such a long time, he felt a little erratic," pitching coach Carl Willis said. "As far as going out and competing, one more bullpen [session] will allow him to tighten things up a little bit. On the physical side, he didn't have any issues today."

The Tigers will still face Hisashi Iwakuma on Wednesday, however. The first-time All Star threw seven scoreless innings in his last start against the NL-leading Cardinals, but he took a no-decision thanks to a lack of run support.

Tigers: Tuiasosopo looks to turn things around against his former team
Matt Tuiasosopo has struggled in the season's second half, batting just .190 with one home run since the All-Star break. Entering the break, the outfielder had been on fire, hitting .329 with six home runs.

The native of Woodinville, Wash., hopes to regain his former form against the team that drafted him, the Mariners, for whom he played from 2008-10 before resurfacing from the Minors with Detroit this year.

"I was just worried about, one, getting a good pitch, and two, putting a good swing on it, those two things," Tuiasosopo said. "It kind of went into, 'I'm going to change my approach to whatever this pitcher I think he's going to do, I'm going to do this on him.' I went got away from that process and that approach."

Worth noting
• Seattle shortstop Brad Miller remains sidelined with a sore left hamstring. The rookie has now missed two games with the injury, which he suffered legging out a bunt in Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

"It felt like a big cramp when I was running down to first," Miller said. "Obviously I felt it pretty good. I knew I probably wouldn't be able to keep playing. It's still sore obviously, but it's feeling better each day. So hopefully as soon as I can, I'll get back out there quick."

•Jhonny Peralta will report to the instructional league on Wednesday, and with the Tigers needing a reliable right-handed bat that can play left field to face left-handed pitching, the shortstop has been working at the position with outfield coach Tom Brookens for nearly a week.

In the instructional league, Peralta will be facing Class A level pitchers that are experimenting with new pitches or extending their seasons to gain more seasoning.

"It's going to be a world of difference," Leyland said. "Instructional league, normally you're going to see a bunch of top-notch young prospects that throw hard, wild."


Jacob Thorpe is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.




INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)





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• WED, Sep 18:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (13-11, 3.66 ERA)) VS
MARINERS (RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (12-6, 2.87 ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• THU, Sep 19:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (12-9, 3.67 ERA)) VS
MARINERS (LHP James Paxton (2-0, 0.75 ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• FRI, Sep 20:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (19-3, 2.95 ERA)) VS
WHITE SOX (LHP Hector Santiago (4-9, 3.53 ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Sep 21:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.45 ERA)) VS
WHITE SOX (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

   Austin Jackson, CF
   Torii Hunter, RF
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B
   Prince Fielder, 1B
   Victor Martinez, DH
   Don Kelly, LF
   Omar Infante, 2B
   Alex Avila, C
   Jose Iglesias, SS (0-for-1 vs. Brandon Maurer)

P: Anibal Sanchez

MARINERS (career numbers off Sanchez)

   Abraham Almonte, CF
   Franklin Gutierrez, RF (0-for-3)
   Kyle Seager, 3B
   Raul Ibanez, DH (7-for-26, 5 walks, 4 K’s)
   Justin Smoak, 1B (0-for-6, 3 K’s)
   Michael Saunders, LF
   Mike Zunino, C
   Nick Franklin, 2B
   Carlos Triunfel, SS

P: Brandon Maurer

Seattle - Top of 1st
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
A Almonte struck out swinging.
F Gutierrez struck out swinging.
K Seager grounded out to first.


Detroit - Bottom of 1st
Brandon Maurer pitching for Seattle
A Jackson singled to center.
T Hunter fouled out to third.
A Jackson stole second.
M Cabrera walked.
P Fielder flied out to left.
V Martinez flied out to right.

0 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

Seattle - Top of 2nd
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
R Ibanez struck out looking.
J Smoak flied out to right.
M Saunders doubled to deep left.
M Zunino walked.
N Franklin flied out to left.


Detroit - Bottom of 2nd
Brandon Maurer pitching for Seattle
D Kelly struck out swinging.
O Infante lined out to shortstop.
A Avila walked.
J Iglesias struck out looking.

0 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 3rd
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
C Triunfel popped out to first.
A Almonte struck out looking.
F Gutierrez grounded out to shortstop.


Detroit - Bottom of 3rd
Brandon Maurer pitching for Seattle
A Jackson struck out swinging.
T Hunter struck out swinging.
M Cabrera flied out to center.

0 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 4th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
K Seager struck out swinging.
R Ibanez struck out swinging.
J Smoak struck out swinging.


Detroit - Bottom of 4th
Brandon Maurer pitching for Seattle
P Fielder grounded out to second.
V Martinez grounded out to second.
D Kelly homered to right.
DET 1 - 0

O Infante flied out to right.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 5th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
M Saunders bunt grounded out to third.
M Zunino struck out looking.
N Franklin singled to left.
C Triunfel doubled to right, N Franklin to third.
A Almonte grounded out to shortstop.


Detroit - Bottom of 5th
Brandon Maurer pitching for Seattle
A Avila struck out swinging.
J Iglesias reached on bunt single to catcher.
A Jackson struck out swinging, J Iglesias stole second, J Iglesias to third on throwing error by catcher M Zunino.
T Hunter grounded out to third.

DET 1 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 6th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
F Gutierrez grounded out to third.
K Seager struck out swinging.
R Ibanez homered to right.
TIED 1 - 1

J Smoak grounded out to third.


Detroit - Bottom of 6th
Brandon Maurer pitching for Seattle
M Cabrera homered to right.
DET 2 - 1

P Fielder singled to left center.
Y Medina relieved B Maurer.
V Martinez flied out to right.
D Kelly flied out to left.
O Infante struck out swinging.

DET 2 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 7th
Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit
M Saunders tripled to deep right.
M Zunino walked.
N Franklin struck out swinging.
K Morales hit for C Triunfel.
K Morales doubled to deep center, M Saunders scored, M Zunino to third.
TIED 2 - 2

A Alburquerque relieved A Sanchez.
D Ackley ran for K Morales.
A Almonte popped out to shortstop.
F Gutierrez struck out swinging.


Detroit - Bottom of 7th
Yoervis Medina pitching for Seattle
N Franklin at shortstop.
D Ackley at second base.
A Avila tripled to deep right.
J Iglesias hit by pitch.
A Jackson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, A Avila out at home, J Iglesias to third. A Jackson to second on the throw.
T Hunter hit sacrifice fly to center, J Iglesias scored.
DET 3 - 2


M Cabrera intentionally walked.
C Furbush relieved Y Medina.
P Fielder struck out swinging.

DET 3 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 8th
Phil Coke pitching for Detroit
P Coke relieved A Alburquerque.
K Seager grounded out to first.
R Ibanez walked.
J Smoak safe at first on error by shortstop J Iglesias, R Ibanez to second.
M Saunders walked, R Ibanez to third, J Smoak to second.
J Alvarez relieved P Coke.
M Zunino grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, M Saunders out at second.


Detroit - Bottom of 8th
Charlie Furbush pitching for Seattle
V Martinez singled to center.
H Perez ran for V Martinez.
D Kelly singled to shallow center, H Perez to third.
C Capps relieved C Furbush.
O Infante singled to left, H Perez scored, D Kelly to second.
DET 4 - 2

A Avila walked, D Kelly to third, O Infante to second.
A Dirks hit for J Iglesias.
A Dirks struck out swinging.
A Jackson singled to center, D Kelly and O Infante scored, A Avila to second.
DET 6 - 2

T Hunter grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, A Jackson out at second, A Avila to third.
T Hunter to second on wild pitch by C Capps.
M Cabrera hit by pitch.
B LaFromboise relieved C Capps.
P Fielder struck out looking.

DET 6 - 2 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 9th
Jose Alvarez pitching for Detroit
R Santiago at shortstop.
N Franklin grounded out to shortstop.
D Ackley popped out to second.
A Almonte walked.
J Veras relieved J Alvarez.
F Gutierrez struck out swinging.


W: A. Alburquerque (3-3)
L: Y. Medina (4-6)


TIGERS WIN 6 - 2

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


GAME INFO

Maurer pitched to 2 batters in the 6th.
Furbush pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

WP: Capps.
IBB: Cabrera, M (by Medina).
HBP: Iglesias (by Medina), Cabrera, M (by Capps).
Pitches-strikes: Maurer 86-53, Medina 24-12, Furbush 20-14, Capps 28-16, LaFromboise 6-3, Sanchez, An 125-81, Alburquerque 10-7, Coke 17-6, Alvarez, Jo 29-18, Veras 6-3.
Groundouts-flyouts: Maurer 3-4, Medina 1-2, Furbush 0-0, Capps 1-0, LaFromboise 0-0, Sanchez, An 6-2, Alburquerque 0-0, Coke 2-0, Alvarez, Jo 2-0, Veras 0-0.
Batters faced: Maurer 22, Medina 8, Furbush 3, Capps 6, LaFromboise 1, Sanchez, An 27, Alburquerque 2, Coke 4, Alvarez, Jo 4, Veras 1.
Inherited runners-scored: Medina 1-0, Furbush 2-0, Capps 2-2, LaFromboise 3-0, Alburquerque 2-0, Alvarez, Jo 3-0, Veras 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Tom Hallion. 1B: Phil Cuzzi. 2B: Ron Kulpa. 3B: Chris Guccione.
Weather: 61 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, In from LF.
T: 3:46.
Att: 39,076.
Venue: Comerica Park.
September 17, 2013