Another late night in Seattle, this time with Tarik Skubal getting the nod for the Tigers, facing off against Geroge Kirby for the Mariners. The Tigers brought their bats tonight, but the game remained close throughout.
Wenceel Perez wasted no time getting the Tigers on the board with a leadoff solo homer in the first. Matt Vierling also netted a one-out single, but no additional runs scored.
Skubal got the Mariners out 1-2-3 in the bottom half.
Parker Meadows got a leadoff single in the top of the second, then successfully stole second. Zack McKinstry then drew a walk, but three outs followed to leave them both stranded. The Mariners once again went down in order.
Matt Vierling got a one-out single in the third, then Bligh Madris doubled deep into center-right where they couldn’t quite manage to get the ball back, bringing Vierling home. Two outs followed, but the Tigers were up 2-0. Skubal continued to grind through the Mariners’ lineup, going three-up, three-down.
Jake Rogers got a two-out solo home run in the fourth, something the team would soon be especially grateful for.
The Mariners finally got something going in the bottom of the fourth, as Randy Arozarena singled, then Cal Raleigh hit a home run to drive in two runs.
Colt Keith doubled to start the fifth, but three outs followed to leave him stranded. Skubal, obviously irritated by the home run, fought off the M’s in the home half, allowing a double to Mitch Garver, and that was it for baserunners.
Kirby was done for the day in the sixth, being replaced by JT Chargois. He gave up a two-out walk to Javier Baez, but that was it for the Tigers in the inning. In the home half, Randy Arozarena walked, then Raleigh hit a ball deep into left field, where Vierling snagged it in foul territory for the out. A really nice play. Justin Turner then drew a walk, but Skubal regrouped and got the final out of the inning with an incredibly well-played toss by Skubal on a little dribbler to get it over to first.
Collin Snider was the next Mariners pitcher up, and he got all three batters out in order. In the home half Skubal kept confounding with his changeup, and Vierling continued to dominate in the outfield with an incredible diving catch. Skubal did the rest on his own, striking out a pair of Mitches. That was it for Skubal, whose final line was 7.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR on 102 pitches, and just mighty fine work overall.
Austin Voth took the mound in the eighth. Gio Urshela got a one-out double, then McKinstry got a two-out single. Honestly, props to third baseman Dylan Moore for snagging that ball on the infield, because otherwise it likely would have driven Urshela home. Urshela actually pulled up short of third base looking like his leg was hurting, but he stayed in the game. With Baez at the plate, McKinstry advanced to second on defensive indifference. Alas, the baserunners were left stranded as Baez flied out. Jason Foley replaced Skubal, and gave up a two-out double to Arozarena. Then Parker Meadows completely made up for his dropped-ball faux pas last night by absolutely ROBBING Raleigh of a home run. DAMN what a catch.
Jonathan Hernandez was the next out of the Mariners’ pen, and gave up a leadoff walk to Jake Rogers. Then Wenceel Perez walked. A Colt Keith flyout advanced the runners. Matt Vierling then laced a hit through second and third to score Rogers. That was it for Hernandez, replaced by Trent Thornton. Madris struck out but Vierling successfully stole second, then a Gio Urshela single scored two runs. Meadows continued to feel good, getting his own single. McKinstry then singled, but Urshela got tagged out at the plate, so the Tigers had to settle for a three-run inning.
Onto the bottom of the ninth it was up to Brenan Hanifee. He gave up a leadoff single to Justin Turner, but then induced a double play off the bat of Jorge Polanco. Hanifee got the final out and the Tigers came away with a no-doubt win.
Final: Tigers 6, Mariners 2