GDT: 4/18/10 - DET (6-5) at SEA (6-6) - 4:10 p.m. ET

Snell looks to run Mariners' stretch to five

By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com

After starting out the season with a 2-6 record, the Mariners weren't exactly living up to the hype that comes with being considered a top contender in the American League West.

But now Seattle is rolling with four straight wins, including two in a row against Detroit, which it hosts in the series finale at Safeco Field on Sunday.

Mariners right-hander Ian Snell will start alongside Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer, who will be making his first start against Seattle.

Snell's start was actually pushed back a day, as he flip-flopped with left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith because he has been battling the flu and had been away from the team due to a death in his family.

Snell, though, should be ready to go for Sunday's start, according to Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.

"Ian Snell has a little case of the flu, but he should be fine to pitch," Wakamatsu said before Saturday's game. "We will probably send him home early just to make sure he gets his rest."

Snell will be hoping that the Mariners' offense stays hot, as the club has 40 hits in its last four games, leading to 22 runs.

"To me, you look at the numbers, and we are more patient right now against opposing pitchers," Wakamatsu said. "Even when we weren't scoring runs, I thought our approach overall was better."

The Mariners will try that selective approach against Scherzer, who has a 1.64 ERA in two starts with four walks in 11 innings pitched.

Scherzer, who was acquired by the Tigers in the trade that sent Edwin Jackson to the D-backs and Curtis Granderson to the Yankees, is coming off a start in which he allowed two runs over five innings in his second appearance against the Royals.

"I didn't try to overthink or anything like that because I realize that if you just execute pitches, you're going to be able to get hitters out, regardless if you faced them the previous time," Scherzer said. "I felt like, at times, I executed pitches, and then there's other times when I left some offspeed [pitches] up, and they were able to capitalize on that. And that's where a lot of the damage came from."

Tigers
Catcher Gerald Laird has been battling a sore back and had to sleep on the floor in his hotel room on Friday night to make sure it wouldn't get stiff from sleeping on a soft bed. "Sometimes it's those [hotel] beds that kind of get you going," he said. "I was laying on the floor with a pillow under me. It was nice. I just wanted to make sure I didn't sleep wrong and end up more stiff." Laird started on Saturday, going 0-for-1 with a walk and a sacrifice bunt.

Mariners
Outfielder Milton Bradley was back in the lineup on Saturday after leaving Friday's game with soreness in his left knee. He went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in the Mariners' 4-2 win. "Milton's knee is just fine, and it was just precautionary taking him out," Wakamatsu said. "It wasn't even something he brought up. I noticed him in the trainer's room getting treatment. He said it was no big deal, but in a game like that, we have talked about at the start of Spring Training to try and do everything we can to make sure he can play every day."




Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Max Scherzer (0-1, 1.64 ERA)
After the Royals put up better approaches at the plate against Scherzer in their second meeting, Scherzer gets an opponent he has never faced in Seattle. A foul ball dropped by Miguel Cabrera extended the fourth inning for the Royals on Monday, and they pounced on Scherzer with a two-run homer from Jose Guillen. Errors, combined with nine Royals hits, forced 101 pitches out of Scherzer over five innings.



RHP Ian Snell (0-1, 5.00 ERA)
A death in the family forced the right-hander to leave the team for a few days and return to his offseason home in Florida, but he's expected to make his third start on schedule. Snell is coming off a rocky outing, lasting just three innings against the Rangers, but manager Don Wakamatsu attributed some of that to the personal issues that were tugging at him. Snell is 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in two career starts against the Tigers.


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Up next (Probable Pitchers)

• Monday, April 19:
Tigers (LHP Dontrelle Willis, (0-0, 4.91 ERA)) at Angels (RHP Joel Pineiro, (1-1, 2.77 ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD/1270)

• Tuesday, April 20:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (1-0, 4.09 ERA)) at Angels (LHP Scott Kazmir (0-1, 13.50 ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD/1270)

• Wednesday, April 21:
Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 9.00 ERA)) at Angels (RHP Jered Weaver ((2-0, 2.84 ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET (FS-D HD/1270)

Gotta Turn it Around!!

exactly gdennis - - if there's any chance for postseason

first pitch!!

oooh, triple!!

austin da man

c'mon carlos - c'mon bats, wake up

3 out

let's go sizemore..

patience at the plate!!! patience at the plate!!

Inning 1
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Austin Jackson triples (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, deflected by left fielder Eric Byrnes.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Johnny Damon walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. Johnny Damon to 2nd.

B:0 S:3 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera called out on .

B:1 S:2 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen pops out to first baseman Casey Kotchman in foul territory.


Bottom Half

B:2 S:1 O:1 -
Ichiro Suzuki grounds out, second baseman Scott Sizemore to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Chone Figgins walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2 -
Franklin Gutierrez pops out to second baseman Scott Sizemore.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
With Jose Lopez batting, Chone Figgins caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Alex Avila to second baseman Scott Sizemore.


0-0 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Brandon Inge walks.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Alex Avila flies out to left fielder Eric Byrnes.

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Scott Sizemore called out on .

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Ramon Santiago called out on .


Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Jose Lopez pops out to shortstop Ramon Santiago.

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Ken GriffeyJr. singles on a ground ball to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

B:2 S:0 O:1 -
Eric Byrnes doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Johnny Damon. Ken GriffeyJr. to 3rd.

B:1 S:1 O:2 - Casey Kotchman singles on a line drive
to right fielder Magglio Ordonez. Ken GriffeyJr. scores. Eric Byrnes
out at home on the throw, right fielder Magglio Ordonez to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera to shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman
Scott Sizemore to catcher Alex Avila. Casey Kotchman to 2nd.

SEA 1, DET 0



B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Adam Moore swinging.

SEA 1, DET 0 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to left fielder Eric Byrnes.

B:2 S:0 O:0 -
Johnny Damon singles on a line drive to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Franklin Gutierrez. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. Austin Jackson scores. Johnny Damon scores.

DET 3, SEA 1



B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen flies out to left fielder Eric Byrnes.

B:2 S:2 O:3 -
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Franklin Gutierrez.


Bottom Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Jack Wilson pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:2 S:1 O:2 -
Ichiro Suzuki grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Chone Figgins swinging.

DET 3, SEA 1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Alex Avila walks.

B:1 S:0 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:4 S:2 O:0 -
Scott Sizemore walks. Alex Avila to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:1 - Ramon Santiago ground bunts into a force
out, first baseman Casey Kotchman to third baseman Jose Lopez. Alex
Avila out at 3rd. Scott Sizemore to 2nd. Ramon Santiago to 1st.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder Franklin Gutierrez.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Johnny Damon grounds out softly, third baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

DET 3, SEA 1 after 3.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Franklin Gutierrez flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Jose Lopez grounds out softly, pitcher Max Scherzer to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Ken GriffeyJr. flies out to right fielder Magglio Ordonez.

DET 3, SEA 1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Jose Lopez to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera flies out to left fielder Eric Byrnes.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen doubles (4) on a line drive to left fielder Eric Byrnes.

B:2 S:3 O:3 -
Brandon Inge on foul tip.

DET 3, SEA 1 after 4.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Eric Byrnes pops out to catcher Alex Avila in foul territory.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Casey Kotchman homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.

DET 3, SEA 2

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Adam Moore swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Jack Wilson grounds out sharply, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 3, SEA 2 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Kanekoa Texeira replaces Ian Snell.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Alex Avila grounds out, pitcher Kanekoa Texeira to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:4 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out to first baseman Casey Kotchman. Scott Sizemore to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Austin Jackson swinging.

DET 3, SEA 2 after 5.5 innings

come on strike em out

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:0 -
Ichiro Suzuki singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:3 S:2 O:2 - Chone Figgins lines into double play,
right fielder Magglio Ordonez to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Ichiro
Suzuki doubled off 1st.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Franklin Gutierrez doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:0 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Jose Lopez on foul tip.

DET 3, SEA 2 after 6 innings

Inning 7
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Sean White replaces Kanekoa Texeira.

B:3 S:1 O:0 - Johnny Damon singles on a ground ball to
shortstop Jack Wilson. Johnny Damon advances to 2nd, on throwing error
by shortstop Jack Wilson.

B:1 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman Casey Kotchman. Johnny Damon to 3rd.

B:4 S:0 O:1 -
Sean White intentionally walks Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:0 O:3 - Carlos Guillen grounds into double play,
second baseman Chone Figgins to shortstop Jack Wilson to first baseman
Casey Kotchman. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

DET 3, SEA 2 after 6.5 innings

Bottom Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Max Scherzer.

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Ken GriffeyJr. swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Eric Byrnes flies out softly to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Casey Kotchman walks.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Pitcher Change: Ryan Perry replaces Phil Coke.

B:0 S:0 O:3 -
Adam Moore bunt grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

DET 3, SEA 2 after 7 innings

Inning 8
Top Half

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Pitcher Change: Jesus Colome replaces Sean White.

B:4 S:0 O:0 -
Brandon Inge walks.

B:3 S:1 O:0 -
Alex Avila doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. Brandon Inge to 3rd.

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Sizemore grounds out, pitcher Jesus Colome to first baseman Casey Kotchman.

B:1 S:2 O:2 - Ramon Santiago reaches on a fielder's
choice out, third baseman Jose Lopez to catcher Adam Moore. Brandon
Inge out at home.


B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Austin Jackson singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Ichiro Suzuki. Alex Avila scores. Ramon Santiago to 3rd.

DET 4, SEA 2

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Johnny Damon walks. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Coaching visit to mound.