The Associated Press
Bobby Higginson's first inning triple (above) got the Tigers off to a good start and Detroit rode the arm of the spirited Jose Lima (below) to a 4-2 victory over the Mariners in the teams' first meeting this season.

Tigers deal M's defeat

Seattle stays quiet as Lima dances to win

LARRY LAGE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published August 1

DETROIT -- The Detroit clubhouse looked and sounded quite similar before and after the Tigers beat Seattle 4-2 Tuesday night.

Jose Lima was shaking his hips to merengue music, smiling from ear-to-ear and shouting whatever seemed to come to mind.

"I've been doing that for about six years," Lima said. "I haven't changed anything, even when I struggled in Houston last year. I played my music and did my thing. I love to celebrate."

Lima (3-2) gave up two runs on six hits while striking out five over eight innings. Detroit acquired Lima from Houston for Dave Mlicki on June 23. He pitched for the Tigers from 1994-1996.

Lima was 7-16 last season, one year after going 21-10 while screaming "It's Lima Time!" often.

Is it "Lima Time" again?

"Ah, what a question," he said. "Of course it's Lima Time, baby!"

Detroit won its third straight game and snapped Seattle's four-game winning streak.

"I'm just happy to play a club like that and perform like I did," Lima said. "It feels good. ... I was excited to face Ichiro (Suzuki). The man is unique."

Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 10 games and leads the AL with 39 mulithit games after going 2-for-4 Tuesday.

Suzuki said, through an interpreter, that Lima has a good pitching style.

The two teams had some trade possibilities -- including a deal that would have sent outfielder Juan Encarnacion from the Tigers to the Mariners -- but decided to stand pat instead.

Matt Anderson pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 14 chances. He said it's fun to have Lima in the clubhouse and on the mound.

"He adds a lot of excitement around here," Anderson said as Lima danced around the clubhouse in a towel. "He's got a lot of flavor and a lot of character."

Lima has pitched seven or more innings in his last three starts after working into the seventh just twice in nine starts in Houston this season.

Aaron Sele (12-3) gave up four runs on nine hits over 6 1-3 innings. He has lost two straight after winning his previous four starts.

Tigers 4, M's 2

-Record: 76-30.

- Today: Seattle (Abbott 10-2) at Detroit (Holt 7-8), 4 p.m. (FSN).

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