Tigers blank Mariners 2-0

SEATTLE — Edwin Jackson was feeling run down, dealing with flu-like symptoms that have been taking a toll on his teammates.

As usual, a dose of Seattle Mariners’ hitters had the Tigers’ right-hander feeling much better.

Jackson baffled the Mariners again, allowing five hits while working into the eighth inning to help the Detroit Tigers beat Seattle 2-0 Saturday night.

Jackson (1-0), who beat the Mariners twice last season and has a career ERA of 0.40 against them, struck out six and walked one in 7 2-3 innings.

“I’m not sure,” Jackson said when asked about his dominance against the Mariners. “If you have the answer let me know.”

He outpitched Seattle’s Erik Bedard (1-1), who allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings. Bedard struck out eight in his first start at Safeco since be beat Detroit on July 4.

Jackson said he didn’t vomit before the game like a couple of teammates, but he didn’t feel normal.

“I just felt weak,” Jackson said. “I’m not sure, it’s just a slight case of whatever’s going around and I’m not fully energized. As a professional, you can’t really go out and make excuses. There’s a lot of people playing sick and hurt, I’m sure, so I’m not really one to complain.”

Detroit manager Jim Leyland marveled at Jackson’s performance.

“He was sick as a dog,” Leyland. “I was worried how he was going to hold up. What a competitor.”

Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth to pick up his third save.

Brandon Inge singled in front of right fielder Ichiro Suzuki to score Miguel Cabrera in the sixth, and Suzuki’s throwing error over the head of catcher Rob Johnson also allowed Gerald Laird to score.

Rodney walked Endy Chavez to lead off the ninth and then retired Ken Griffey Jr., Adrian Beltre and Mike Sweeney. Rodney has not given up a hit or a run in five appearances and allowed his first baserunner of the season with the walk.

Bedard, who threw 100 pitches, turned in his second consecutive solid start. He threw 8 1-3 innings in a 1-0 win at Oakland April 12 when he allowed three hits while striking out seven and walking one.

“Erik did a great job with his sinker and his cutter and his curveball when he needed to,” Johnson said.

Jackson, acquired in an offseason trade from Tampa Bay, retired the Mariners in order in the second, third and seventh. He also faced just three batters in the fourth when Adrian Beltre hit into a double play.

Bobby Seay struck out Suzuki on a called strike in relief of Jackson in the eighth with two outs and a runner on first. Johnson was thrown out trying to steal second with one out earlier in the inning before Jackson walked Franklin Gutierrez.

Detroit center fielder Curtis Granderson threw out Jose Lopez at the plate in the fifth. Lopez tried to score after a shallow flyout by Yuniesky Betancourt.

“That was a great throw,” Jackson said. “That changed the game. That’s a run right there if that throw wasn’t perfect like it was.”

The Mariners threatened in the first when Chavez doubled and stole third with one out. But Jackson retired Griffey on a foul pop and Beltre on a groundout.

“He’s got great stuff,” Johnson said. “He mixes the fastball at 91 to 96 mph and he’s got a filthy slider that keeps you off balance.”

Chavez threw out Granderson at the plate in the seventh after Granderson tried to score on a flyout to left by Cabrera.

Detroit had nine hits and has collected at least eight hits in each of the first 11 games, the longest streak by a Tigers team since 1954.

Notes: Seattle 1B Russell Branyan missed the game with a tight back sustained when he slid into home to score in the fifth inning of Friday’s game. Branyan is expected to miss Sunday’s game as well but return on Tuesday against Tampa Bay. The Mariners are off on Monday. … Detroit RHP Joel Zumaya threw two scoreless innings and struck out one for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday in his first game of the season. He is on the 15-day DL with a sore pitching shoulder. … Detroit SS Adam Everett was sick and unavailable. He is expected to return Sunday.