After allowing three runs in five innings at Minnesota on April 7 in his first start since season-ending shoulder surgery in July, Bedard (1-0, 2.03 ERA) came within two outs of recording his second career shutout in a 1-0 win at Oakland on Sunday. He allowed three hits while striking out seven and walking one.

"I can't say enough about Erik Bedard," Mariners first-year manager Don Wakamatsu said. "He came out and pitched like a champion. He's worked hard to get to this point."

Seattle traded five top prospects to Baltimore for Bedard prior to last season, but hip and back problems plagued him early and a shoulder injury ended his season after going 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 15 starts.

Though his first season in Seattle was a disappointment, Bedard went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA in eight starts at Safeco.

In his last start there - and overall in 2008 - Bedard allowed a run and struck out six in five innings of a 4-1 victory over Detroit on July 4. He is 1-1 with a 6.32 ERA in three starts against the Tigers.

The left-hander should have a confident group behind him after the Mariners won 6-3 on Friday. It was Seattle's seventh win in eight games and tied the franchise record for the best 11-game start.

Though it's very early, Seattle (8-3) has the AL's best record after going 61-101 last year.

Adrian Beltre went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Lopez each drove in a run for the Mariners, who are 3-1 on their season-opening nine-game homestand.

"It's great to enjoy what you are doing," Beltre said after he ended an 0-for-13 skid. "It's easier when you are winning, and we're winning right now. This team is unbelievably together."

Suzuki is 4-for-13 with five RBIs in three games since making his season debut after being on the disabled list with a bleeding ulcer, but is 1-for-7 against Detroit's scheduled starter Edwin Jackson.

Jackson (0-0, 3.38) has yet to earn a decision after two starts in his first season since being traded from Tampa Bay in December.

After allowing an earned run in 7 1-3 innings of a loss at Toronto in his Detroit debut, Jackson gave up four runs early and five hits overall in six innings of the Tigers' 6-4 win over Texas on Sunday.

"I made the two mistakes and got us in a hole, and then it was a matter of damage control," Jackson said. "I know how good our offense is, so I just wanted to keep it close."

The right-hander has pitched extremely well versus Seattle, going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA.

Brandon Inge drove in two runs and Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 on Friday for Detroit, which is 1-4 on the road. Cabrera is batting .513 (20-for-39) with four homers and 12 RBIs, but is 1-for-6 with four strikeouts against Bedard.