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Mariners 11, Tigers 9: J.D. Martinez matches longest-hit HR record at Comerica in frustrating loss

The Tigers rallied back from trailing by four runs only to watch the bullpen blow it yet again.

By Catherine Slonksnis
Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT -- Shane Greene taketh away. J.D. Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes restoreth. And the bullpen blew it up. Despite three home runs for the Detroit Tigers and overcoming a four-run first-inning deficit, the Tigers dropped a frustrating 11-9 decision to the Seattle Mariners Tuesday night at Comerica Park.

Greene didn't take long to implode, per the usual. After six batters, three singles, a double, a hit by pitch, and a sacrifice fly, the Mariners had what seemed to be a comfortable 4-0 lead. He didn't make it out of the fifth inning and had the Tigers in a 5-3 hole when he later gave up a solo home run to Nelson Cruz, which traveled 455 feet. The bullpen survived, but it gave up another run in the sixth, making it a one-run game once again.

But where the Tigers' pitching failed, the offense came through ... initially. J.D. Martinez had reached on a fielding error to start the second, advancing to second on a single by Nick Castellanos. Alex Avila, facing Mariners starter Taijuan Walker, drove in Martinez on a single, though the run was unearned due to the error. Facing a 5-1 deficit, Victor Martinez got hit by a pitch in the third. J.D. then gave new meaning to the term "Crushed" and planted a very bruised baseball into center field above the roof of the camera well.

Headed into the fifth tied five-all, the Tigers put together a four-spot on a two-run homer by Cespedes, Andrew Romine's RBI single, and Anthony Gose, who walked one in. Castellanos nearly had the last say when he planted a 95 mph fastball into the right field seats for some much needed insurance. So close ... until Neftali Feliz destroyed the hopes and dreams of kids everywhere when he gave up a grand slam in the eighth.

ROARS:

J.D. Martinez: Killed a baseball and matched the record for the longest-hit homer in Comerica Park history. He also singled in the fifth, scoring later in the inning.

Yoenis Cespedes: Did his fair share of the work, tying the game on a two-run homer to left in the fifth inning. He later walked in the sixth.

Andrew Romine: Drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth, an RBI squibbler single toward first base that just died enough for Romine to reach safely, as none of the Mariners' fielders were able to get to it.

Anthony Gose: Was stellar defensively, saving Greene and the bullpen from several extra-base hits. He also walked in the seventh run of the game for the Tigers.

Nick Castellanos: Sent a baseball into the right field seats for a homer. It would later be footnote in the loss, but it was glorious nonetheless.

HISSES:

Shane Greene: Five earned runs in three innings -- including the blast to Nelson Cruz. He lasted just 4 2/3 innings, gave up six hits on the runs, walked two and struck out one. Greene is still Greene and that's not good.

Tigers bullpen: Gave up two very crucial runs, a run in the sixth, and one in the eighth. Hardy had a bad night and gave up a run and three hits. But Neftali Feliz served up the grandaddy of all stinkers, a wild pitch that scored a run and a freakin' grand slam. A grand slam!!!!

Brad Ausmus: Again, he left a pitcher in too long. And especially since he had two relievers he could have gone to over Feliz. He did nothing, even after it was clear that Feliz was far from OK. This falls straight on Ausmus. It should have never gotten to this point. You shouldn't be nearly losing a game when you score double-digit runs. No excuse.

STREAKS AND STATS:

  • J.D. Martinez home run in the third inning was his 27th of the season, tied for third-most in MLB, along with Bryce Harper and Giancarlo Stanton. He now holds the record for the longest homer hit as a visiting player at Comerica, and for the home team.
  • Martinez's homer had a final calculated distance by ESPN of 466 feet, 113 mph, and a 26 degree angle. The home run marked the longest of Martinez's career, beating his previous record of 464 feet off former Tiger Max Scherzer on May 15, 2013 at Comerica Park.
  • Martinez's home run, which traveled 466 feet -- final distance -- ties the MLB record for the longest-hit home run at Comerica, set by Miguel Cabrera back in 2012. Of note, Statcast recorded that the ball was originally hit 467 feet, which would have set a new record. However, ESPN's calculation is the final definition, therefore it's a tie.
  • J.D. Martinez has homered 14 times in the last month going back to June 21. In that same span, the Cubs have 12 as a team, according to ESPN.
  • J.D. Martinez and Nelson Cruz's home runs both traveled over 450 feet, the first time opposing players both hit 450+ foot homers since Sept. 13, 2012 when Edwin Encarnacion and Dustin Ackley both did it, per ESPN.
  • Yoenis Cespedes' sixth-inning walk marked his first in 33 games. His last was on June 10 against the Cubs.
  • The home run by Nick Castellanos was his seventh of the season.
  • The Tigers have hit three-or-more home runs in a game 10 times this season, five of which have happened in July.

WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:


Source: FanGraphs

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