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SEATTLE -- Jim Leyland was anxious, two hours before the staging of an event he had hyped all weekend, in his own, understated way: Justin Verlander vs. Felix Hernandez, fastball vs. fastball, young vs. even younger.

Verlander is 23. Hernandez just turned 20. And, on this afternoon, they thoroughly impressed Detroit's 61-year-old manager.

Both lasted seven innings. Both allowed only one earned run. And aside from a difference in strikeouts -- Hernandez fanned nine, Verlander three -- the only other contrast came in team-wide performance: For the third day in a row, the Tigers were better.

"Good matchup today, with the kids," Leyland said after his team finished an emphatic sweep of the Mariners -- Detroit's first here in six years -- with a 6-4 triumph before 28,659 at Safeco Field. "It was worth the price of admission."

The Tigers are 10-2 wearing gray, their best early-season road show since 1984. They are 12-7 overall, 1 1/2 games behind Chicago in the American League Central, and have not trailed since Thursday's ninth-inning comeback in Oakland.

Exactly two weeks ago, the Tigers arrived at Comerica Park for their home opener amid talk of a 5-1 start, Leyland's managerial magic and a home-run-slugging redhead named Chris Shelton. On Sunday, less than one week after their skipper's notable "We stunk" postgame address, the Tigers rode another superb starting pitcher to their fifth straight win, even as Shelton slumped to his first hitless series of the season (0-for-9).

On the turn that began with Kenny Rogers on Wednesday, the rotation is 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA. Jeremy Bonderman took a no-decision Thursday, before scoreless starts by lefthanders Mike Maroth and Nate Robertson enabled Verlander to pitch for the sweep Sunday.

"They've been outstanding," said Craig Monroe, whose three-run homer in the eighth provided needed insurance. "With Kenny here, I really think his influence, how he goes about his business, it's rubbing off. These guys are learning. They have somebody that they can go to with questions."

The Tigers began Sunday with the best team ERA in the AL (3.71). That figure elevated slightly when Joel Zumaya allowed three runs in the eighth, but Fernando Rodney struck out pinch hitter Roberto Petagine with the bases loaded to end the inning. Todd Jones worked a perfect ninth for his second save.

Not until the afternoon's 36th at-bat -- Omar Infante's RBI groundout in the fifth -- did either Verlander (2-2) or Hernandez (0-3) allow an earned run. The difference at that point -- and ultimately, Detroit's margin of victory -- was a bumpy first inning by an inexperienced Seattle battery. Catcher Rene Rivera, 22, allowed one run to score on a throwing error and another on a passed ball.
Good game yesterday. My only thought on the game though is that Zumaya got ripped and torn apart by the Mariners. It was horrible to see. Hopefully he bounces back though.

Can't wait for tonights game against the Angels.