Takeaway
The Detroit Tigers erupted for 19 hits – most against Seattle in a nine-inning game this season – and scored nine times in the sixth and seventh innings en route to a 12-5 rout over the Mariners Monday night (box score) to start a seven-game homestand with a howling flop.
Essential moment
Back-to-back Martinez homers – Detroit’s Victor and J.D., no relation, went deep to open the fourth – gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead and served as a hint of what was to come.
Detroit hit four solo homers before drubbing the Mariners with a plethora of singles in the sixth and seventh. Long ball led to small ball.
Pitchers
RHP Hisashi Iwakuma returned from the DL to serve up the four homers – and he was far and away the best Seattle pitcher of the first seven innings. Rookies Mayckol Guaipe and David Rollins came out of the bullpen to give up a combined nine singles and one walk to the 12 batters they faced. Iwakuma had a 5-4 lead when he walked off the mound in the sixth; by the time the bottom of the seventh began, Seattle was down 12-5. For what it’s worth, Iwakuma was charged with eight hits and five earned runs over five innings – throwing 60 pitches while not factoring in the decision in his first start since April 20.
Hitters
The bats were somewhat productive, especially while leading Seattle to a 5-3 lead through the fifth. 2B Robinson Cano had hits in two of his first three at-bats, while 1B Logan Morrison delivered a big blow with his three-run homer in the fifth. It wasn’t nearly enough, but at least the Mariners showed some pop after scoring just two runs over the final two games of the Oakland series.
The Martinezes combined to go 7 for 10. Not since the days of Tino and Edgar had Seattle seen such offensive heroics from that surname.
Words
“You don’t necessarily have the weapons at your disposal because of how the last few days lined up. Is it optimal? No. Hopefully it’s a learning experience for those young guys, and they learn from it.” – Bench coach Trent Jewett, subbing for manager Lloyd McClendon, on having to use rookie relievers Mayckol Guaipe and David Rollins in the sixth and seventh innings
Noteworthy
OF James Jones was sent back to Triple-A Tacoma. Seattle sent him back Monday afternoon to clear a roster spot for Iwakuma to be activated . . . In another roster move only mildly noteworthy, The News Tribune reported that veteran Willie Bloomquist cleared waivers and was given his outright release.
Next
RHP Taijuan Walker (7-6, 4.34 ERA) brings a five-start winning streak into Tuesday’s game against the Tigers. Walker has been Seattle’s best starter, and one of the best in the AL, since late May. He’s 6-1 with a 1.68 ERA over his past seven starts. LHP Kyle Ryan (1-2, 4.55 ERA) is scheduled to make his sixth career start for the Tigers.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="2205736 https://sportspressnw.wpengine.com/?p=2205736">2 Comments
1 game win streak snapped again, unsurprisingly. So let me understand the latest M’s meltdown….. in 2 innings these idiots allowed NINE runs or the equivalent of the M’s scoring output over FOUR GAMES? Are you kidding me? This clownshow is way beyond out of control. So of course Iwakuma, who has just been bad anyway & now has been rushed back to the big club too soon, gives up 4 home runs in 5 innings in a park that allegedly is impossible to hit in. This Iwakuma experiment needs to end. The M’s actually score 5 runs, which is probably only about the 8th or 9th time this year & of course they get slaughtered anyway. I predicted a 3-4 homestand, probably more like 2-5. This team is an absolute joke, will be in the basement by July 31. Of course, they won’t make any moves, but who would want anything from this collection of jokers? Can you say 74-88?
I agree with everything RJ said. I was looking at the team hitting stats last night for the American League, and the Mariners are at or near the bottom of almost every meaningful hitting stat. Iwakuma sucked, Blowers was thrilled when he hit 90mph. Really? a 90 mph fastball with no movement makes the Tiger hitters drool!