DETROIT (AP) – Sean Douglass pitched eight strong innings and Placido Polanco scored twice to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 3-1 victory Thursday over the Seattle Mariners, spoiling the debut of 19-year-old pitcher Felix Hernandez.

Douglass (4-1) allowed one run and three hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Magglio Ordonez and Dmitri Young each had an RBI single for Detroit.

The highly touted Hernandez (0-1) gave up two runs – one earned – and three hits in five innings in his major league debut for Seattle, which got a home run from Raul Ibanez.

Hernandez obviously had the jitters early on, walking Carlos Guillen and Chris Shelton and giving up two singles in the first inning. Polanco singled and scored on Ordonez’s single.

Hernandez settled down after a visit to the mound from his teammates and pitching coach Bryan Price. The right-hander retired his next five batters before ending the day with four strikeouts.

Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said before the game that Hernandez would probably throw about 80-85 pitches no matter how well he was pitching. Hargrove said the goal was to make it feel like any other game. Hernandez ended up throwing 81 pitches, 49 for strikes.

“There’s enough on this kid’s plate without reminding him of the obvious,” Hargrove said. “I’d like for him to be doing this at 29.”

Hernandez became the youngest major league starter since Jose Rijo pitched for the New York Yankees in 1984. Hernandez dominated the Pacific Coast League while pitching at Triple-A Tacoma.

Ibanez hit his 100th career homer leading off the seventh to pull Seattle to 2-1.

Young added an RBI single in the eighth, and Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save.

The Tigers scored their second run without a hit.

Polanco, who was hit by a pitch, stole second base in the third. He reached third on Shelton’s groundout before scoring on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

Notes: The Mariners optioned RHP Clint Nageotte to Triple-A Tacoma after he made his major league debut Wednesday. Nageotte took the roster spot of RHP Jorge Campillo, who was placed on the disabled list with an elbow injury. A team doctor said Campillo will need Tommy John surgery. … Slumping Detroit 3B Brandon Inge was back in the lineup after sitting out Wednesday, snapping his 141 consecutive games played streak. … Detroit CF Nook Logan got his 20th stolen base.

AP-ES-08-04-05 1546EDT

Copy the Story Link