Minecraft Disskusion » in the coming days as Hull strengthens its attack

SEATTLE -- Brad Ausmus watches the intensity and concentration of Detroits Victor Martinez at the plate and is continually impressed. George Parros Jersey . The only time Detroits first-year manager has noticed a difference is when opponents decide to pitch around Miguel Cabrera and take their chances with the leading hitter in the American League. "The only time I see his concentration go up even higher is when someone gets walked in front of him," Ausmus said. Martinez broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run homer in the fifth inning capping a 10-pitch at-bat, Justin Verlander threw 7 2-3 strong innings and the Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 6-3 on Friday night. Martinez watched as Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma issued a two-out intentional walk to Cabrera in the fifth. It was probably the right move after Cabrera hit a two-run homer off Iwakuma in the third inning to give Detroit the lead. Martinez then made Iwakuma work, fouling off pitch after pitch and extending the at-bat. On the 10th pitch, Iwakuma left a slider hanging chest-high and Martinez lifted his 13th homer of the season out to right field. "I thought I did pretty well until that last pitch," Iwakuma said through an interpreter. Martinez finished with two hits raising his AL-leading average to .347. Hes come to understand hitting behind Cabrera there will be times that hes considered the better option to face. "Early in my career, I used to get mad ... when they were walking people in front of me. Id get mad at the plate and be swinging at anything," Martinez said. "Now I understand. Hey, if Im a manager, Id do the same thing. It is what it is. (Cabrera) the best hitter in the game, and you cant let the best hitter in the game beat you. I understand it." Cabreras homer in the third came on the first pitch from Iwakuma. Both home runs Iwakuma allowed came with two outs and led to his shortest outing of the season. Iwakuma (3-2) lasted just six innings and took his second straight loss. Rajai Davis added a solo shot on the first pitch from reliever Charlie Furbush in the seventh, his fourth homer of the season. The homers provided plenty of support for Verlander (6-4), who had lost three of his previous four starts and gave up 11 hits in each of his last two outings. He allowed five hits, struck out seven and walked one. Verlander was on the cusp of getting through the eighth for just the second time this season, but James Jones two-out single forced a change. Verlander threw a season-high 120 pitches. The outing was more what the Tigers have come to expect from Verlander. "I think my rhythm was much better, my consistency was much better and my stuff was a lot better," Verlander said. "Thats a good sign in and of itself." Verlanders only troubles came with Seattles Kyle Seager, who doubled in his first at-bat and hit a two-run homer in the fourth to pull the Mariners even. Seager was thrown out at home trying to score on an infield groundball in the second, but made up for it with his eighth homer of the season in the fourth. The Mariners had a chance in the fifth after Endy Chavezs two-out double, but second baseman Ian Kinsler swallowed Jones hard one-hopper and threw him out to save a run. Joba Chamberlain pitched the ninth for his second save. Seattle played without second baseman Robinson Cano for the second straight night, sitting out with a minor contusion on his hand. Cano was a late scratch from Thursdays lineup, but said before Fridays game that he was feeling better. He has played at least 159 games in each of the past seven seasons. NOTES: It was the first time for Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon facing the Tigers. McClendon was on Jim Leylands coaching staff in Detroit from 2006-13 before getting the Seattle job. ... Cabreras homer snapped Iwakumas streak of scoreless innings against AL Central teams at 50 1-3. Stitched Ducks Jerseys . 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This week, topics cover the Blue Jays rotation, the futures John Gibbons and Alex Anthopoulos, protecting pitchers and a bonus question on his predictions for the MLB playoffs.Hull signed Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic for a reported club-record fee on Wednesday in a deal that is unlikely to appease supporters amid the latest controversy engulfing the clubs outspoken Egyptian owner. Jelavic left Everton, where he had lost his first-team place, to move to Hull for a reported fee of 6.5 million pounds ($10.6 million) on a 3 1/2-year deal. "As soon as the manager called me, I realized straight away that he was really interested in signing me and that it is a great opportunity for me to come here," the 28-year-old Jelavic said. Jelavic is likely to be joined at the KC Stadium by another forward, Shane Long from West Bromwich Albion, in the coming days as Hull strengthens its attack for the second half of the season as the club battles to avoid relegation. Hull is 10th in the standings after a solid start to life back in Englands top division, but is just five points above the relegation zone. Many fans delight at their teams start to the season has been tempered by the recent comments of Hulls owner, Assem Allam, who has applied to the Football Association to change the clubs official name from Hull City AFC to Hull Tigers. On Tuesday, he threateened to quit the club within 24 hours if the FA rejects his application. Andy McDonald Jersey. "No one on earth is allowed to question my business decisions. I wont allow it," Allam said in an interview with Sky Sports. "Im here to save the club and manage the club for the benefit of the community. It will never be the other way round -- take it from me." Allam, who is reported to have injected around 70 million pounds ($115 million) into the northern club since rescuing it from financial ruin in 2010, wants to rebrand Hull to boost its marketability abroad. Retaining its Premier League status will be key to that appeal, and the signing of Jelavic could clearly help a side that has scored only 22 goals in 21 league games this season. Jelavic has largely been used as a substitute at Everton this season following the loan signing of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea. He previously played for Hajduk Split, Rapid Vienna and Rangers. "I can see straight away that there is a lot of ambition here within the club and I hope that we can build on the great start to the season and become a really strong Premier League team over the coming years," Jelavic said. ' ' '