Mallex Smith lined a run-scoring single to right field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Seattle Mariners rallied to defeat the visiting Detroit Tigers 3-2 Friday night.
The Mariners have won three straight games for the first time since June 23-26.
Brandon Dixon and John Hicks hit home runs for the Tigers, who have lost four in a row and dropped to 2-12 since the All-Star break.
With the score tied at 2-2 in the ninth, the Tigers brought in right-hander Jose Cisnero. Kyle Seager led off by grounding a single into center field, and he was sacrificed to second. Pinch hitter Omar Narvaez was intentionally walked.
Another pinch hitter, Ryan Court, lined out to left field for the second out before a wild pitch by Cisnero allowed the runners to advance to second and third. Smith then lined a 3-2 pitch into right for the winner.
Mariners left-hander Roenis Elias (3-2) pitched one scoreless inning for the victory.
Dixon opened the scoring with one out in the second inning, hitting a solo shot to left-center field on a 1-2 pitch from Mariners starter Yusei Kikuchi. It was Dixon's 13th home run of the season.
Hicks, a former Mariners catcher, led off the third with an opposite-field homer to right, his seventh of the season and second in as many days in Seattle.
Tigers right-hander Daniel Norris, who was seeking his first victory in 13 starts since May 12 at Minnesota, opened with six scoreless innings but was knocked out of the game in the seventh.
All-Star Daniel Vogelbach led off the inning for the Mariners with a double to right-center field. Tom Murphy then hit a 2-2 pitch from Norris over the wall in left-center field, his 10th, to tie the score at 2-2.
An out later, Norris was replaced by right-hander Buck Farmer, who got the second out before Kristopher Negron singled, Dylan Moore walked and Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Left-hander Nick Ramirez came on to get J.P. Crawford to line out to center field to end the inning.
Norris allowed two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Kikuchi went 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits. He didn't walk a batter and struck out four.
--Field Level Media
Detroit | Seattle | |
Daniel Norris | Player | Yusei Kikuchi |
No Decision | W/L | No Decision |
6.1 | IP | 6.2 |
8 | Strikeouts | 4 |
5 | Hits | 7 |
2.84 | ERA | 2.70 |
Detroit | Seattle | |
Niko Goodrum | Player | Tom Murphy |
2 | Hits | 2 |
0 | RBI | 2 |
0 | HR | 1 |
4 | TB | 6 |
.667 | Avg | .500 |