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.
