Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 52

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Ch7 101) 8 05 2 05 111 FSN FSN 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 .134 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 4 4 5 5 3 1 4 3 4 4 1 4 4 0 1 1 2 12 I bi bb v. SEATTLE McLetTtor K-2b Cameron rt Rort'ifluei Oerud lb rVfi'twi rjh B'jftrwr rt Bell 2D Maftry ph-H W'lson Guiiien 3b TttH DETROIT Poioma dh Jeeri 2B Hnw 2b Hiyyinson If Clark lb Ausmus Palmer 3b Garcia rf Encarfiacion cf Crui Dntrolt 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 .130 J5 .167 Ji4 .217 .231 .000 346 313 Relievers abandon pen to warm up 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 2 4 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 1 0 1 30 I raw 110 Wo-2 12 2 p.ygi:m:guidi I KM I'RISS SIMMS WHIIIK ooi LXix-i i excuses for bis poor performance. "I had a bad year, period, and I admit it," Jefferies said. "But this isn't, my first rodeo and I wasn't going to give up. "I got a big boost from Brad (Ausmus) in spring training when he told me 1 had my old swing back." Garner said: "Early on in camp I had some concern about Jefferies, but he came on strong." Jefferies came up Tuesday in the bottom of the first inning with Luis Polonia on third base and promptly smacked the 1-0 pitch into right for an RBI single, which meant he had knocked in the first run at Comerica Bark.

"That was exciting," Jefferies said. "I think this park is going to be good for me. At the old park (Tiger Stadium), I found myself digging in and trying to yank one out. I'm better off when I'm using the whole field. That's my game." Jefferies wore a ski mask to help ward off the chilly temperature.

"That was the first time I've ever done that," Jefferies said. "My dad was watching and I'm sure I'm going to hear about it from him." Contact GENE GUIDI at real burner to get one in this park," 1 ligginson said. Even though that was Higginson's only hit in four at bats, Tigers manager I'hil Garner said; "This is the best I've seen Higgy swing the bat for a whole game since I've been here. We worked with him in the cage on Monday and saw some positive results today. If he keeps it up, he'll be OK." Jefferies, subbing for injured second baseman Damion Easley, contributed a solid game in the field to go along with his two RBI hits.

"Gregg is someone who kind of came back from the grave this spring," Garner said. "It was a big game for him." Even though Jefferies was making his first start at second base since Aug. 31, 1991, when he was with the Mots, he said: "I felt right at home there today." "It makes a big difference when you're in the lineup (as a position player) instead of being theDIl," Jefi'eries said. Jefferies, a .289 career hitter and a two-time All-Star, never could get untracked last season. He was a forgotten man by the end of the season and ended up appearing in only 70 games.

To his credit, he never made When spring training started, there were no guarantees that Bobby Higginson and Gregg would even be with the Tigers for the opener at Comerica Park. Higginson was the subject of numerous trade rumors; coming off a .200 season in his first year with the Tigers, seemed a kmgshot at best to win a spot on the 25-man roster. But Higginson and Jefferies not only were present Tuesday for the historic first game, they combined to play a key role in Detroit's 5-2 victory. Higginson had a two-run triple that gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead; Jefferies had two RBI singles, including one in the first to give the Tigers the lead. "For myself, it's been awhile since I got a big hit," Higginson said.

"It was good to help the team win a game." The triple was Higginson's first since 1998. "I'm not the fastest guy in the world, but you don't have to be a out for Bell hi the 7ih. Cameron (11, Wilson (II, Palmer (3), Encarnacion (3), Crui (11 LOB: Seattle 13, Detroit 9. 2B; Olerud (I), Wilson 11), Guillen (1) Encarnacion (1), Crui (3). 3B.

Polonia (2) (HiDviinson(l) Jefleries2 (2), Hiiaoinson 2 (2). Crui 3. RunnenlefflriKOono DOjrnwr Seattle (McLemore, Cameron 2, Martinet 2, Bunner 2, Bell, Mabrv); Detroit 6 (Halter, Hioginion 2, Clark, Garcia 2). Rumen moved up: McLemore, Bed, Jefferies. DP: Detroit 1 (Clark).

Settle Ip trbb tv era Garcia (L 1-1) 6 6 5 5 5 4 118 5.73 Paniagua 2 2 0 0 0 2 23 0 00 Detroit Ip trbb so no era Moenler (W 1-1) a 10 2 1 1 3 107 3 00 Pallerson 1 0 0 1 0 16 000 Brocail 0 0 0 0 1 19 5 79 Jones IS 2) 1 1 0 0 1 2 23 0 00 Inherited rvrmn-tcorett Brocail 2-0. Balk: Garcia. 3:12. 39,168, Umrtrev Home, Reed, lb, Weoner; 2b, pevnolds, 3b, Williams. a Tigers relievers warmed up literally in batting cages under the stands during Tuesday's Comerica I'ark opener instead of in the bullpen.

Only two, Willie Blair and Mark Johnson, were in the bullpen when the game started because they were the likeliest candidates to pitch long relief. But they abandoned the pen and headed to the dugout in the second inning. Danny Patterson, the first reliever used by the Tigers, said: "It was so warm a great way to get ready to come in the game. The only bad part was that we had no way of knowing what was going on in the game. We had about a four-man relay team feeding us the information." Doug Brocail and Todd Jones followed Patterson as the pen combined for three shutout innings in preserving a 5-2 victory.

Manager Phil Garner said that was the first time he had ever warmed up his relievers somewhere other than the bullpen. "Lou and I agreed to it before the game," Garner said, referring to Seattle manager Lou Piniella. BACK TOR NOW: Right-hander Jeff Weaver returned for the home opener after starting for Triple-A Toledo on Monday night. Weaver, not on the 25-man roster because the Tigers don't need a fifth starter in the early season, used the game to prepare for his first start, Saturday at home against Tampa Bay. The original plan was to have Weaver start twice in Florida before rejoining the Tigers.

But pitching coach Dan War-then said it made more sense to have Weaver pitch in weather he would be exposed to in Detroit this weekend. With a 40-degree temperature Monday, Weaver threw 100 pitches, allowing five hits and two runs and striking out 10. "It was cold, but fortunately the wind wasn't blowing," Weaver said. "I'm glad we did it this way and I didn't have to stay in Florida. From day one, I wanted to be with the team, and this allowed me to do that." BLESS YOW, BOYS: The latest on Damion Eas-ley's rib-cage injury: It even hurts when he sneezes.

"I sneezed last night twice and I was in some kind of pain," Easley said Tuesday. "I had to yell when it happened." Easley was injured while swinging in Sunday's game in Baltimore. The Tigers haven't put Easley on the disabled list yet, but Garner said he thought the second baseman would be out "at least a week." OLD rRXEND: The last time Sparky Anderson wore a baseball uniform was the last time he managed the Tigers in Anderson was back in uniform Tuesday, complete with warm-up jacket, as part of Tuesday's ceremonies. "This makes you look back on all the wonderful things that have happened," Anderson said. "It'll be the same when I come back (April 30 for Sparky Anderson Day).

I'm enjoying this so much." NOTEBOOK: Garner said the play of the game was Tony Clark's stab of a sixth-inning line drive that the first baseman turned into a double play. Two runners were on and none out, and the Tigers were leading, 4-2. Tigers pitchers haven't allowed a home run in the past 31 innings, since Mike Bordick hit one off Johnson on Friday at Camden Yards. The Tigers will donate the lineup card from Tuesday's game, and Brian Moehler will donate his cap, to the Hall of Fame. The Tigers scored five runs off Freddy Garcia, matching the total they scored in his three starts against them in '99.

tigers ivEnnccs Through Tuesday Mariners: McLemore flied to centerfielder Encarnacion. Cameron safe on Cruz's error. Cameron was picked off, pitcher Moehler to first baseman Clark. Rodriguez safe on Palmer's error. Olerud doubled to right, Rodriguez to third.

Martinez flied to rightfielder Garcia. 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 0, Mariners 0. Tigers: Polonia tripled to center. Jefferies singled to right, Polonia scored.

Higginson flied to centerfielder Cameron. Clark struck out. Ausmus walked on a full count, Jefferies to second. Palmer walked on a full count, Jefferies to third, Ausmus to second. On Garcia's balk, Jefferies scored, Ausmus to third, Palmer to second.

Garcia struck out. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 2, Mariners 0. SECOND INNING Mariners: Buhner infield single to second. Bell grounded out, shortstop Cruz to first baseman Clark, Buhner to second.

Wilson singled to left, Buhner to third. Guillen struck out. McLemore flied to centerfielder Encarnacion. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 2, Mariners 0.

Tigers: Encarnacion singled to left. Cruz sacrificed, first baseman Olerud to second baseman Bell, Encarnacion to second. Polonia walked on a full count. Jefferies struck out. Higginson tripled to center, Encarnacion and Polonia scored.

Clark grounded out, second baseman Bell to first baseman Olerud. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 4, Mariners 0. TIHHD INNING Mariners: Cameron popped to shortstop Cruz. Rodriguez singled to left.

Olerud singled to left, Rodriguez to third. Martinez struck out. Buhner grounded into fielder's choice, third baseman Palmer to second baseman Jefferies, Olerud out. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 4, Mariners 0.

Tigers: Ausmus grounded out, third baseman Guillen to first baseman Olerud. Palmer safe on Wilson's error. Garcia fouled to third baseman Guillen. Encarnacion grounded out, shortstop Rodriguez to first baseman Olerud. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 left on.

Tigers 4, Mariners 0. FOURTH INNING Mariners: Bell grounded out, first baseman Clark to pitcher Moehler. Wilson doubled to right. Guillen doubled to right, Wilson scored. McLemore grounded out, second baseman Jefferies to first baseman Clark, Guillen to third.

Cameron struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 4, Mariners 1. Tigers: Cruz doubled to center. Polonia popped to third baseman Guillen.

Jefferies grounded out, second baseman Bell to first baseman Olerud, Cruz to third. Higginson flied to centerfielder Cameron. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 4, Mariners 1. riFTII INNING Mariners: Rodriguez singled to center.

Olerud grounded into fielder's choice, third baseman Palmer to second baseman Jefferies, Rodriguez out. Martinez lined to leftfielder Higginson. Buhner singled to center, Olerud to third. On Encarnacion's error, Olerud scored, Buhner to third. Bell grounded out, pitcher Moehler to first baseman Clark.

1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Tigers 4, Mariners 2. Tigers: Clark fouled to second baseman Bell. Ausmus grounded out, third baseman Guillen to first baseman Olerud. Palmer walked on a full count.

JULIAN H. UONALLZDelroit free Press Deivi Cruz, who sacrificed three times Tuesday, lays down a bunt in the second inning. TIGERS I Quick warm-up to Comerica Garcia struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 4, Mariners 2.

sixth I Mariners: Wilson infield i single to third. Guillen walked on a full count, Wilson to second. McLemore lined into a 1 I double play, first baseman Clark unassisted, Guillen out. Cameron flied to 1 rightfielder Garcia. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on.

Tigers 4, Mariners 2. Tigers: Encarnacion walked. Cruz sacrificed, first I baseman Olerud to second baseman Bell, Encarnacion I to second. Polonia flied to centerfielder Cameron. Jefferies singled to center, Encarnacion scored.

On i Cameron's error, Jefferies to I second. Higginson grounded out, third baseman Guillen to first baseman Olerud. 1 run, 1 hit, i 1 error, 1 left on. Tigers 5, Mariners 2. seventh Mariners: Patterson pitching.

Halter in as second baseman. Rodriguez walked on a full count. Olerud lined to leftfielder Higginson. Martinez flied to rightfielder Garcia. Buhner singled to left, Rodriguez to third.

Mabry pinch-hitting for Bell. Brocail pitching. Mabry struck out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 5, Mariners 2.

i Tigers: McLemore in as second baseman. Mabry in as leftfielder. Paniagua pitching. Clark singled to right. Ausmus lined to first baseman Olerud.

Palmer I struck out. Garcia struck out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 5, Mariners 2. EIGHTH UiZilUQ Mariners: Wilson flied to rightfielder Garcia.

Guillen flied to Encarnacion. McLemore grounded out, first i baseman Clark to pitcher Brocail. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Tigers 5, Mariners 2. Tigers: Encarnacion doubled to left.

Cruz sacrificed, third baseman Guillen to I second baseman I McLemore, Encarnacion to third. Polonia flied to leftfielder Mabry. Halter flied to centerfielder Cameron. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on. Tigers 5, Mariners 2.

i ninth nnntw Mariners: Jones pitching. Cameron walked on a full count. Rodriguez struck out. Olerud infield single to third, Cameron to second. Martinez struck out.

i Buhner grounded out. second baseman Halter to first baseman Clark. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on. Tigers 5, Mariners 2. Juan Enearnacion error.

Encarnacion, the centerfielder, became the first Tiger booed at Comerica Park when he let Jay Buhner's two-out single skip past him, allowing John Olerud to score from first. It was Encarna-cion's third error this season. Dan Wilson, who had been 0-for-10 off Moehler entering the game, opened the sixth with his third hit in three at-bats a rare infield single for a catcher, on a slow roller up third. Carlos Guillen, the No. 9 hitter, fouled two 2-2 pitches before drawing Moehler's first walk.

Runners were at first and second with none out, and danger loomed, because Moehler knew he wasn't getting much on the ball, and it was too early for the heart of the bullpen to guard the lead and the top of the order was up. McLemore, who had flied to center on the first at-bat in Comerica history, made better contact when he rifled an 0-1 pitch towai'd the rightfield corner. The G-foot-7 Clark went from upright to horizontal in a flash, like the arm on a traffic gate suddenly Batting and Dean Palmer walked off right-hander Freddy Garcia to push Jefferies to third. When Garcia paused in his stretch while pitching to Karim Garcia, it wasn't just a balk it was a run-scoring balk and a 2-0 lead. Encarnacion singled to begin the second, and Deivi Cruz (your "little ball" star of the game) used the first of his three sacrifice bunts to send him to second.

Polonia (who has vowed to walk more often) rallied from 0-2 for a walk. One out later, Bobby Higginson did something he never did last season hit a triple. In Tiger Stadium, with its shorter power gaps, the same ball likely would have been a double. Encarnacion, who walked 14 times last season, walked to start the sixth and scored on Cruz's sacrifice and Jefferies' single. The Tigers had five runs off Garcia matching their total in three losses to him last season.

That's how to win without a homer. "You might see a number of those this year," Ausmus said. "We can win games without hitting the ball out," Polonia said. "Even the heavy guys are going to hit triples." And that might include Clark, given that he weighs 233 the weight he has maintained since spring training. You didn't read anything about Clark in Tuesday's offensive summary.

He struck out in the two-run first and grounded out to end the two-run second. That, made him 4-('or-21 this season. Yet this slow-hitting start hasn't detracted from his defense it perhaps has added to it. "He knows you wear two hats," Mansolino said. "He's a pro." After a sparking play in Baltimore last weekend, Clark told Mansolino, "If I'm not getting any hits, neither is anyone else." McLemore knows what Clark means.

Instead of having Tuesday's big hit, he got stuck with an O-for 5. On a day when everyone needed mittens, Comerica Park fits the Tigers like a glove a first baseman's glove. Cmtuct JOHN LOWE at -liM or.htlutljinrUSo imix'wu. From Page ID ning, with Moehler losing his stuff, and with the tying run on base, Clark dove to his right to rob Mark McLemore of the hit that could have turned the game around. Clark sprung up and beat Carlos Guillen back to first for a rally-killing, unassisted double play.

Both managers called it the key play of the game. "There's an unbelievable amount of satisfaction to know that defensively you're not a liability," Clark said. "All the hard work and sweat and time that you put together in the off-season all comes to a head on a play like todav, being able to nip a rally in the bud." Infield coach Doug Mansolino also gets credit for the play. Halfway through spring training, he got Clark to move farther off the line, to take away more hits in the hole. If Clark hadn't made that move, McLemore's ball would have been by him into the corner, and the go-ahead run would have been in scoring position.

When he was at his hitting peak, Wade Boggs would report to third base daily before batting practice for grounders. Mansolino sees that kind of effort from Clark, who arrived early on camp mornings for defense. Sunday night, as the Tigers flew home from Baltimore, Clark approached Mansolino and said he wanted extra defensive work during Monday's off-day workout. But Mansolino didn't see half the effort that contributed to Clark making the spotlight play of a spotlight day. From Nov.

1 until mid-February, Clark stuck to this regimen to lose weight: two hours on the treadmill twice a week; minutes of running five or six times a week; and two hours of weighllifting four hours a week. You never know when the hours will pay off. Try Tuesday's sixth inning. Trailing, 4-0, entering the fourth, the Mariners had scored in the fourth and fifth. The fifth-inning run was the league-high unearned run allowed by the Tigers in their seven-game sea-sun, and the fourth traceable to a PLAYER A8 i8 3B HR RBI BB SO SB BA Maara 2 31 2001 3 010 -M7 Ausmus 7 25 3 10 4 0 1 4 6 3 0 .400 Jelftrits 4 2 3 0 0 0 2 3 3 0 -375 Enr.atnar.ion 7 2 7 9 1 0 2 3 2 5 3 1-1 .346 O.Crm 7 24 2 8 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 01 -333 Fitk 5 19 1 6 0 0 0 2 0 4 1 jit Palmw 7 26 5 6 1 0 3 7 11 3 .231 Clark 6 23 2 5 1 0 1 2 4 4 2 .217 Hinnmson 7 23 3 6 1 1 0 2 2 7 0 .214 Hatttr 36010000 lil7 Polonia 7 23 5 3 0 2 0 2 4 1 0 .130 6 17 020000 220 -118 38000000 0 3 0 -0 -0o0 Contain 2 5 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 -000 TOTALS 7 241 32 61 11 3 8 26 32 49 10 1-2 .253 OPP.

7 237 44 68 9 2 10 40 23 46 10 3-5 .287 Pitching Pitcher I 6 OS IP ER HR B8 SO ERA Anderson 0 0 ih 0 0 0 0 3 4 0.W T.j'onn 0 0 3 0-0 3 3 0 0 0 4 Patterson 0 0 4(hT 4 0 0 0 1 0 000 Poole 0 0 3 00 'h 2 1 0 0 0 0 0W iVtam 000 00 00 0 0000 000 Nomo 1 2 2-2 14 7 3 3 3 5 13 193 MwWw 1 12 2 2 12 17 7 4 2 2 8 3 00 B'Ocail 0 1 3 00 4-'. 5 3 3 1 1 1 5.79 Blair 00200 34 2 20 1 0600 NilkowiH 0 2 2 1 2 9-i 15 14 8 0 5 12 7.72 M.Jonnson 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 6 4 2 2 2 13 48 Miicki 0 1 1 0 1 4 8 8 7 2 2 2 15 75 TOTALS 2 5 5-7 59 684431 10 23 46 4,70 OPP. 4-7 63 61 32 28 I 32 49 4 00 As suddenly as he made the catch, Clark was up to beat Guillen to the bag for the double play. Moehler got Mike Cameron on a fly ball, preventing Alex Rodriguez from batting as the potential tying run. In the split-second between the time the ball left McLemore's bat and entered Clark's glove, it seemed almost certain that Rodriguez would get his 42-homer bat to the plate in the sixth.

Clark's catch culminated six innings of offensive frustration for the Mariners and escape artistry for Moehler. When the top of the sixth ended, the Mariners were outhitting the Tigers, 10-5, but were 2-for-ll with runners in scoring position, stranding seven beyond first base. In contrast to their 1-5 opening trip, the Tigers got the hits they needed with runners in scoring position. Before they made an out in their new home, they scored on Luis Polonia's triple and Gregg Jefferies' single. Then walks became important.

With two out in the first, Ausmus Sam(2): T. Jones 2. QS-Oualitj itarti and qarnes starterl A fluahlf start is one in nicn a pitcrier allows thru earned runs or fewer and noes at least su innings, list Team JUi lANl IN MU- Vs. AL Central: One-run oames: 0-1 Vs. AL East: 0-3 Eilratnninqs: 01 Vs.

AL West: 2-2 2f.n) record: 2 5 Vs HL Central- 0 0 J'm Vs starters: 2-5 JiW attendants': J9.IIB Vs. lefty 00 attendant: On pass field 2 5 2ri.rt) attendance 39.16B Onartit.tillort: 0-0 l'W attendant tig 47.449 The weather miht have been froty, but the reccpt inn wnsn't as the Tipers took the field..