Day game, unlikely comeback, kids… baseball might be fun again.
Bryce Miller was on the mound for the Mariners in the last game of this three-game series, up against a mixed bag of Tigers’ relievers, with Alex Faedo opening and Kenta Maeda taking the bulk of the innings.
In the first, Faedo gave up back-to-back walks to Jorge Polanco and Randy Arozarena with one out, then two more walks to Luke Raley and Justin Turner to walk in a run, before finally getting the third out and making his exit from the game. In the home half the Tigers went 1-2-3.
The second was three-up, three-down for both teams.
The Mariners went down in order in the top of the third. Then in the bottom, Javier Baez singled but did not score.
Luke Raley was hit by a pitch to start the fourth, but then eliminated on a force out off the bat of Justin Turner. Turner then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Maeda. But even despite that, Maeda pitched out of the jam. The Tigers were again 1-2-3 in the home half.
In the fifth, Victor Robles doubled, then stole third. Jorge Polanco got another walk, but with men on the corners, the Mariners left them stranded. Parker Meadows singled with one out in the bottom half, then stole second, but he too was left stranded.
The sixth inning was another quiet 1-2-3 for both teams.
Since it’s that kind of game, in the seventh Dylan Moore was hit by a pitch AND stole second base. After getting the next two outs, that was it for Maeda, who gave way to Shelby Miller, who got the final out. The Tigers went out in order in the bottom half.
The Mariners had another three-up, three-down inning. And just as it seemed time to start giving up hope, the Tigers mustered a little gumption in the home half. Yimi Garcia replaced Miller, and gave up a walk to Meadows. Meadows then stole second. With two outs, Javier Baez homered, putting the Tigers up 2-1.
Jason Foley came in for the ninth, and got the Mariners out in order to hand the Tigers a late but welcome win.
Final: Tigers 2, Mariners 1