SEATTLE MARINERS
INSIDE PITCH
Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson remained on the bench for a third straight game Friday, although manager John McLaren wouldn't say he has given up on his struggling slugger.
McLaren started Miguel Cairo at first base, saying he chose to stay with a lineup that had delivered two straight victories for the second time in May.
"I know Richie wants to play," McLaren said. "There is not an easy answer for this. This is not a long-term thing. I am just sticking with the hot hand. We know Richie wants to play and all that, but it is what is."
Cairo's numbers hardly equate to a "hot hand." He went 1-for-3 in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Tigers and is batting .196 this season. Sexson is batting .200 with nine home runs and 21 RBI, and has gone 2-for-14 in his past four games.
"We're trying to get him going," McLaren said of Sexson.
TIGERS 7, MARINERS 4: The Tigers hit Carlos Silva hard for the second time in 10 days, knocking him out of the game after only two outs in the first inning Friday. The Tigers scored all their runs in the first before the Mariners' bullpen shut them down. Silva allowed seven runs on nine his in four innings May 20 at Detroit. The Mariners have gone 2-8 in their last 10 games.
NOTES, QUOTES
--3B Adrian Beltre hit solo home runs in the third and fifth innings for his 17th career multi-homer game. He leads the Mariners with 12 homers.
--RHP Carlos Silva's two-thirds of an inning start was the shortest of his career and the shortest for a Mariners starter since former LHP Horacio Ramirez left the game Sept. 15 last year without getting an out against the Devil Rays.
--SS Yuniesky Betancourt drew his fourth walk of the season in the third inning, ending a streak of 105 at-bats between walks.
--The Mariners have shut out opponents in 20 of the past 21 innings.
--Friday's loss was the Mariners 20th in May and the eighth time in franchise history they've lost as many as 20 in a month. The last time was June 1998.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9 -- Seattle pitching allowed nine runs or more in five straight games Tuesday through Saturday. That's the second longest such streak in Seattle history.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm a tough guy. I feel I'm at my best with my back to the wall." -- Manager John McLaren.
ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
RF Mike Morse (dislocated left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list April 14. He had shoulder surgery April 22 and probably won't play again this season.
RHP Anderson Garcia (right shoulder tendinitis) opened the season on the 15-day disabled list. He restarted a rehab assignment with Class A High Desert on May 19.