Mariners 11, Tigers 9
DETROIT -- Pinch-hitter Franklin Gutierrez hit a grand slam to cap a five-run eighth and the Seattle Mariners out-slugged the Detroit Tigers 11-9 on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.
Gutierrez's opposite-field shot off reliever Neftali Feliz (1-3) was the second grand slam of his career and the second pinch-hit grand slam in Mariners' history. His other grand slam came on May 27, 2008, against the Chicago White Sox.
Designated hitter Nelson Cruz homered and second baseman Robinson Cano rapped three hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the Mariners (43-51). Joe Beimel (1-1) pitched two-thirds of an inning to get the win and Carson Smith tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to collect his eighth save.
Right fielder J.D. Martinez and left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hit two-run home runs for the Tigers (46-47). Cespedes' 14th homer highlighted a four-run fifth when the Tigers took a 7-5 lead. Detroit third baseman Nick Castellanos had three hits, including a solo homer.
Center fielder Austin Jackson's RBI single pulled Seattle within one, 7-6, in the sixth. Castellanos' seventh homer in the seventh restored the Tigers' two-run advantage.
Jackson scored on a Feliz wild pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth. Following an intentional walk, Gutierrez smashed his game-winning shot to make it 11-8.
Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.
It was 4-0 Mariners before many fans had settled into their seats. Cano bounced a single up the middle to knock in Seattle's first run. Right fielder Seth Smith followed with a run-scoring double over the head of center fielder Anthony Gose. The Mariners tacked on two more runs in the first on left fielder Dustin Ackley's sacrifice fly and shortstop Brad Miller's RBI single.
The Tigers scored an unearned run in the second on catcher Alex Avila's RBI single.
Cruz made it 5-1 with his 455-foot blast over the center field wall to lead off the third, his team-high 22nd homer.
That wasn't even the longest home run of the inning. Martinez cleared the camera booth in center with his two-run shot, a 466-foot bomb to cut Seattle's lead to 5-3.
Cespedes tied it with his two-run blast over the left-center field wall in the fifth. Shortstop Andrew Romine's RBI infield single and Gose's bases-loaded walk later in the inning gave Detroit a 7-5 lead.
NOTES: Detroit's All-Star SS Jose Iglesias was scratched from the lineup because of an illness. "He didn't feel great (Monday) and played," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He felt worse today, so we decided to give him a day." ... Seattle CF Austin Jackson stole two bases on Monday for just the second time this season. His 10 stolen bases are enough to lead the team, though he also has been caught eight times. "Believe it or not, he's still learning when it comes to stealing bases," manager Lloyd McClendon said. ... The Mariners' first four games after the All-Star break were decided by one run. They have played 35 one-run games this season, tying them with the Chicago White Sox for the most in the American League. ... Detroit's 5-4 win on Monday, highlighted by 2B Ian Kinsler's go-ahead home run, was just the second time in 41 games it won after trailing in the eighth inning.