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Tigers eye winning record
05/23/2004  2:49 AM ET
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

Jeremy Bonderman isn't worried as much about his first Major League start in his home state as he is for his chance to pitch the Tigers back above .500.

The 21-year-old right-hander will have more friends and relatives making the 3 1/2-hour drive from his hometown of Pasco, Wash., to Safeco Field than he wants to count, but he insists he's geared up for every start.

"If we can play .500 baseball to the All-Star break or a little better than that, we have a chance [to make the playoffs]," he said after his last start, when he beat Oakland. "This team's got good hitting. We've had some good pitching lately. If we just put it all together, this could be a good team to watch."

It'll be fun for his friends and family, who haven't had a chance to see him pitch this close to home since he turned pro in 2001.

Detroit started the season 4-0 but hasn't had a winning record since May 2, when a series-closing loss to the Mariners at Comerica Park began a four-game losing streak. A victory Sunday would also earn the Tigers their first series sweep since taking three straight at Toronto to open the season.

Pitching matchup
DET: RHP Jeremy Bonderman

  • 4-2, 4.78 in 2004
  • 1-0, 2.35 vs. SEA in 2004
  • 1-1, 4.26 lifetime vs. SEA

    SEA: RHP Freddy Garcia

  • 1-3, 2.89 in 2004
  • 0-0, 1.13 vs. DET in 2004
  • 4-3, 3.73 lifetime vs. DET

    Players to watch
    Garcia scattered just four hits over eight innings against the Tigers April 30 in Detroit. The only run he allowed scored on a sacrifice fly from Bobby Higginson, the only Tiger with success against the M's right-hander. Higginson is 10-for-30 lifetime off Garcia with three home runs and seven RBIs. ... Two of the five hits Bonderman allowed against the Mariners on May 1 came from Ichiro Suzuki, now 4-for-7 lifetime versus Bonderman. Tigers killer Raul Ibanez is 4-for-11 against Bonderman, including a triple in their last meeting.

    Quotable
    "What we're seeing is maybe the start of something special." -- Manager Alan Trammell, on Bonderman

    On the Internet
     MLB.TV
     Gameday Audio

  •  Gameday
  •  Official game notes

    On television

  • DET: Fox Sports Net
  • SEA: KSTW

    On radio

  • DET: WXYT-AM 1270
  • SEA: KOMO-AM 1000 (English), KKMO-AM 1360 (Español)

    Quick hits
    Omar Infante went 0-for-4 Saturday night to end a seven-game hitting streak. ... Ichiro has reached base safely via hit or walk in each of his last 21 games. ... Saturday's win guaranteed at least a split on their six-game West Coast swing this week. The Tigers will head to Kansas City on Tuesday to start a three-game set.

    On deck

  • Monday: Off
  • Tuesday: Tigers at Royals, 8:10 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday: Tigers at Royals, 8:10 p.m. ET
  • Thursday: Tigers at Royals, 2:10 p.m. ET
  • Friday: Orioles at Tigers, 7:05 p.m. ET
  • Saturday: Orioles at Tigers, 7:05 p.m. ET

    This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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