Tigers score winning run on wild pitch
DETROIT -- Steve Cishek's wild pitch to Ian Kinsler with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th inning scored pinch-runner Cameron Maybin from third base to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday and a sweep of their four-game series.
Steven Moya walked with one out and Maybin ran for him. Pinch-hitter Victor Martinez lined a single to left center and both runners advanced to third and second, respectively, when left fielder Seth Smith's throw to the infield eluded third baseman Kyle Seager for an error.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia was walked intentionally to load the bases and Andrew Romine struck out after missing a safety-squeeze attempt.
The first pitch to Kinsler from Cishek (2-4) was away and in the dirt, with Maybin scoring when the ball eluded catcher Chris Ianetta.
Kyle Ryan (3-2) picked up his second win in as many games with one inning of scoreless relief.
The Mariners squandered an excellent scoring chance in the top of the 10th.
Shawn O'Malley led off with a single to left and went to third on Ryan's wild snap pickoff attempt to first. Ketel Marte grounded out to third with the infield in and O'Malley was caught in a rundown and tagged out by James McCann attempting to score on Smith's sharp ground ball to drawn-in Kinsler at second. Robinson Cano then struck out on three pitches.
Nelson Cruz's second home run of the game and 18th of the season came off Bruce Rondon's first pitch in relief of Daniel Norris to open the sixth and tied the score 4-4.
Consecutive home runs by Ianetta, his seventh of the season, and Leonys Martin, his 11th, with one out in the fifth shaved Detroit's lead to 4-3.
McCann's two-run homer, his fifth home run of the season, chased emergency starter Vidal Nuno with one out in the fifth and gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
Nuno was pressed into duty when scheduled starter Adrian Sampson reported feeling right elbow discomfort just before he was to throw his first pitch.
The Mariners halved the Tigers lead in the fourth on a home run by Cruz with two outs.
Norris, in his first start of the season for the Tigers, struck out five and didn't walk a batter, but three of the five hits against him were solo home runs.
Detroit took a 2-0 lead in the second on RBI doubles by Justin Upton and Moya.
Losing Sampson for any length of time would leave Seattle without four starters, and at least two relievers won't be available for the next game or more after having worked multiple innings.
NOTES: Detroit C Jarrod Saltalamacchia made his first start of the season at first base Thursday, and only his second in eight games at the position since 2007. ... Seattle 2B Robinson Cano entered Thursday needing one home run for 20, which would be his seventh season at that figure. ... Tigers RHP Warwick Saupold, out since June 1 with a right groin strain was to begin a rehabilitation assignment Thursday with Triple-A Toledo. He was to pitch in relief. ... The Mariners entered Thursday at exactly .500 for the first time since standing 9-9 on April 24.