Detroit Tigers Lose to Seattle Mariners 7-6 in 11 Innings

Jul 7, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Kyle Ryan (56) is relieved for during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers lose the Seattle Marines 7-6 in the middle game of their three game series in a game with 7 home runs. Taijuan Walker got the start for the Mariners tonight. In his last 7 starts, he had a 1.68 ERA in 48.1 IP with 51 strikeouts and 3 walks, but was roughed up tonight. The Tigers got to Walker for 5 runs on 3 home runs in his 6 innings of work, but he still outpitched Kyle Ryan who started for the Tigers.

The Tigers got on the board first in the top of the second. Alex Avila walked after trailing in the count 0-2. It was the first walk Walker issued in 111 at bats and proved costly.

Nick Castellanos then continued his hot play with a home run to right center field, giving the Tigers the 2-0 lead. Marc Krauss then made a good first impression by depositing a Walker pitch into the right field stands to go back-to-back with Castellanos.

The Mariners took the lead in the bottom of the third. The 7-8-9 batters all reached on a walk and 2 groudn ball singles to lead off the inning after Ryan had gotten through the first two innings on 14 pitches. Austin Jackson then hit his first career grand slam to put the Mariners ahead 4-3. Franklin Gutierrez then went back-to-back with his first home run of the season, giving the Mariners the 5-3 lead.

Ryan was pulled later in the inning for Alex Wilson. He finished with a line of 2.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. In his last four starts, he has surrendered 6 home runs in 17.1 innings with an 8.31 ERA. It will be interesting to see if the Tigers make a move to replace him with either Shane Greene or Buck Farmer before Sunday, his final scheduled start before the All-Star Break.

The Tigers then continued to shine offensively in this series. J.D. Martinez led off the inning with a double to left field. Alex Avila then tied the game at 5-5 with a home run to left field.

The Mariners struck back in the bottom of the fifth with a Robinson Cano leadoff home run to give the Mariners the 6-5 lead.

Ex-Tiger Austin Jackson got to the Tigers early, but the Tigers got to ex-Tiger Fernando Rodney in the top of the 8^th. Yoenis Cespedes hit the 4^th Tigers’ home run of the night to tie the game at 6-6.

The Tigers had a chance to take the lead in the 10^th, but did not score. Anthony Gose hit a ground ball hustle double up the middle. Kinsler hit a ground ball to shortstop with two outs that was kicked around, but Gose held at third. Cespedes then popped up to end the inning.

In the 11^th, Ian Krol threw his second inning while Joakim Soria stayed in the bullpen for a save situation that never presented itself. Miller and Jackson hit singles before Robinson Cano walked the game off with a single off the right field wall to win the game for the Mariners 7-6.

These two teams will play the rubber game of their three game series Wednesday at 3:40 as Anibal Sanchez (7-7, 4.65 ERA), tries to extend his stretch of good starts as he opposes J.A. Happ (4-5, 3.93 ERA).