Jim Leyland has won 1,331 major league games, Don Wakamatsu 8. Not one to rest on numbers, Leyland sought out the Mariners rookie manager before this series began just to wish him the best and congratulate him on joining the fraternity.

It touched Wakamatsu.

"One of the ways I judge managers is by what their players and former players say about them," Wakamatsu said. "Jim is one of those manager whose players respect and love him. Over all the years he's been in the game, that's say a lot."

It's the Tigers vs. the Mariners, Leyland vs. Wakamatsu at Safeco Field.

And off we go.

Just another 'A.B.' at third

Adrian Beltre has won consecutive Gold Gloves at third base, and showed why in the second inning.

Marcus Thames grounded sharply down the line and Beltre smothered the ball with a dive, got to his feet and threw off-balance - a strike to first baseman Mike Sweeney.

Great play, yes, but more than that.

If the ball gets by, it's a double. And the next Tiger hitter, Gerald Laird, singled.

That's one potential Detroit run erased by defense, and Erik Bedard and Edwin Jackson remain wrapped up in their shuouts.

Not many hits or bunts, lots of zeroes

Detroit has four hits, Seattle two into the fifth inning - and the Mariners have yet to drop a bunt.

No sacrifices yet, because they've not been in position to bunt.
E

ndy Chavez doubled in the first inning, Ken Griffey Jr. singled - on a 97 mph fastball - in the fourth.

Bedard just got Magglio Ordonez on a ground ball with a runner at second.

To the botom of the fifth: no score.

Out at home

It wasn't much of a rally, but it's as close as anyone has come to scoring tonight.

With one out, Jose Lopez struck out but reach first base on Laird's passed ball. On a hit-and-run single by Rob Johnson, Lopez took third.

Yuniesky Betancourt then flied to medium center field, Lopez lit out for home and Curtis Granderson's throw was perfect - out at the plate.

After five: no score.

Safe at home

The game changed on the weakest hit the Tigers have managed, a two-out, two-on bloop to right field that chased home the first run against Bedard.

As bad, when Ichiro Suzuki fielded it and threw home, he over shot catcher Johnson and Bedard, who was backing up, and sailed the all into a camera well.

Two runs scored, Ichiro got the error.

To the bottom of the sixth: Tigers 2, Mariners 0.

Last chance

Bottom of the ninth, Fernando Rodney pitchintg, a crowd of 31,966 on its feet.

Endy Chavez walks to bring up Griffey, who popped out.

Adrian Beltre - the hero 24 hours earlier - flied to the warning track in left field.

That sent the game to Mike Sweeney, who grounded to third.

The final: Tigers 2, Mariners 0

Off to a start that matches the best in franchise history, Don Wakamatsu's Seattle Mariners have done more than win games this month - they've won hearts and minds.

And not just those of their long-suffering fans.

One of the tasks handed Wakamatsu and his staff was changing the clubhouse environment, forming a team instead of 25 guys on the same roster.

That staff convinced players like Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt that fundamental baseball was more than catching ground balls and hitting. It was moving a runner over so the next hitter could get him home more easily.

Ken Griffey Jr. put an exclamation point on those lessons opening day, when he grounded to the right side of the infield to get a runner from second to third - and the next batter drove him in.

Those lessons continue, and the learning curve has made Seattle not only a fun team to watch, but apparently a blast to play for.
The clubhouse is alive with conversation and laughter, teasing and joking.

And, on the field, the Mariners have played as a team - using the bunt, hit-and-run and squeeze as additional weapons.

As a result, teams are going to have to defend the Mariners differently - and that's an edge, when you're a team others must adjust their game to play.

Their are months of baseball left, but give Wakamatsu and his staff this - they've created a new team, a new chemistry, in relatively little time.

Part of that has involved patience. If Yuni can't get a bunt down or Russell Branyan flubs a relay throw or Brandon Morrow blows a save, this team shows faith.

So far, that faith has been rewarded.

Whatever lies ahead, this team has taken a giant step forward in playing watchable baseball - and enjoying it.