Mariners 7, Tigers 2: Detroit bats asleep in Seattle

Seattle starter James Paxton pitched a complete game, holding the Detroit Tigers to just three hits and a walk with eight strikeouts, leading the Mariners to a 7-2 victory over Detroit.

Seattle opened the scoring on a Jean Segura home run in the bottom of the first inning. Victor Martinez tied it up with a solo shot in the bottom of the second, his fourth homer of the season. Ben Gamel put the Mariners back on top with his own solo home run in the bottom of the second to make it 2-1.

Seattle extended their lead in the third inning on a triple by Segura, giving them a two-run lead. The Tigers cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth inning when Grayson Greiner sacrificed John Hicks home from third base, making it 3-2 for the Mariners.

The Tigers’ chances burnt out from there. Still in the fifth, Niko Goodrum reached first on a superball-esque chopper. He stole second with Jose Iglesias batting. Iglesias fouled a ball down the right field line, and the Mariners’ Mitch Haniger dove into the stands to haul it in. Goodrum broke from second and came all the way around with the tying run as Haniger extricated himself from the ground, but of course, the ball was dead. Goodrum was sent back to third, and Dixon Machado struck out. The Tigers never really had a chance after that as Paxton hit the afterburners.

Tigers’ starting pitcher Mike Fiers gave up a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the sixth inning and was relieved by Artie Lewicki. He gave up a pair of singles, a walk, and a two-run double to Dee Gordon to give Seattle a four run lead. Segura sacrificed home another run to cap off the scoring with the Mariners up 7-2.

The two teams will wrap up the season series on Sunday, each team having won three games thus far. A pair of lefthanders will take the mound with Francisco Liriano starting for Detroit and Wade LeBlanc for Seattle.