Detroit Tigers (43-42) at Seattle Mariners (33-52), 4:10 p.m.

By Sports Network | The Sports Network • Published July 04, 2008

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The Detroit Tigers try to continue their recent dominance of the Seattle Mariners when the two teams continue their four-game series this afternoon at Safeco Field.

Detroit has won six of seven from the Mariners this season and nine of 11 in this series dating back to last year. The Tigers have also won four of their last five in the Emerald City and 10 of their last 14 there since the start of the 2006 campaign.

That trend continued in the opener of this set on Thursday, as Ivan Rodriguez knocked in three runs and Justin Verlander hurled six effective innings to lift Detroit to an 8-4 win.

Matt Joyce had four hits, including a pair of doubles, and an RBI in the win, while Mike Hollimon finished 2-for-4 with his first career home run for Detroit.

Verlander (5-9) surrendered two runs on eight hits and three walks for Detroit, which won for the seventh time in its last nine tries. Fernando Rodney threw one pitch in the ninth to record his first save of the season.

Jose Lopez was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Jose Vidro and Adrian Beltre added RBI hits for Seattle, which had a two-game win streak halted. Mariners starter Carlos Silva (4-10) was tagged for five runs on nine hits in five innings to take the loss.

Hoping to keep Detroit in the win column this afternoon will be veteran lefty Kenny Rogers, who has won two of his last three starts. Rogers defeated the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, surrendering three runs and eight hits in six innings to run his record to 6-5 and lower his earned run average to 4.59.

Rogers defeated Seattle the last time he faced them and is 11-12 lifetime against the Mariners with a save and a 4.58 ERA in 53 games (29 starts).

The Mariners will counter with lefty Erik Bedard, who is 5-4 with a 3.79 ERA. Bedard picked up the win on Sunday in San Diego, as he held the Padres to a run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Bedard will be facing the Tigers for the third time in his career and is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA against them. However, he hasn't faced Detroit since 2005.