Tigers at Mariners
The Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers appear comfortable living on the edge, and that certainly seems to be the case whenever they square off against each other. One day after winning the fourth one-run game between the teams in five meetings, the Mariners try to even up the season series at three games apiece Saturday when they host the third of four games in Seattle against the Tigers.
The Mariners improved to 10-7 in one-run contests following Friday's dramatic 5-4 victory, avenging a 3-2 loss in Thursday's series opener by scoring all of their runs during an explosive seventh inning after Detroit raced out to a four-run advantage. Ben Gamel sparked the uprising with a two-run single, while Mitch Haniger delivered the go-ahead RBI double later with two outs to power the Mariners to their 11th comeback win of the season - tied for the third-most such victories in the American League. The Tigers are 10-9 in one-run games and one of two teams who have played more such contests than Seattle, pulling into a tie with Tampa Bay for the most in the majors following Friday's result. John Hicks has done a more-than-adequate job replacing the production of the injured Miguel Cabrera at first base of late, batting .344 with 12 runs scored, five doubles and 10 RBIs in 16 games this month.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Mike Fiers (4-2, 4.23 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (2-1, 3.52)
Fiers notched his second victory in as many trips to the mound Monday against Cleveland after permitting one run on a solo homer and three hits across five innings, throwing a season-high 92 pitches in the process. The 32-year-old Nova Southeastern product has not walked more than one batter in any of his seven turns and is averaging a career-low 15.1 pitches per inning. Kyle Seager is 5-for-11 with a homer versus Fiers, who is 1-0 despite a 6.00 ERA in five starts against the Mariners.
Paxton followed up his no-hitter at Toronto on May 8 with his fourth consecutive quality start in a no-decision at Detroit on Sunday, allowing three runs on six hits in six frames. The British Columbia native, who reportedly dealt with food poisoning between starts, is 1-0 with a 1.61 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 28 innings in his last four outings. Niko Goodrum went 2-for-2 with a homer last weekend versus Paxton, who is 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA in six starts against the Tigers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners CF Dee Gordon made his first start of the season at second base Friday in place of injured/suspended 2B Robinson Cano. He did not commit an error and added a sacrifice fly.
2. Detroit activated OF Leonys Martin from the 10-day disabled list Friday and optioned LHP Ryan Carpenter to Triple-A Toledo.
3. Seattle DH Nelson Cruz (bruised foot) returned to the lineup after sitting out the previous two games and finished 0-for-3 with a run scored in the cleanup spot.