Mariners Split Saturday Doubleheader in Detroit

After a rain delay postponed the first of a three-game stint with the Detroit Tigers Friday night, the Mariners played a doubleheader on Saturday in order to complete the series by Sunday.

Marco Gonzales took the mound for the Mariners against the Tigers to begin the day after coming off of a strong start against the Angels.

The Mariners offense started cold, with the sole hit being a Robinson Cano double through four innings. The game was scoreless until Detroit’s Grayson Greiner singled to bring in John Hicks, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Seattle answered back quickly when Dee Gordon hit a sacrifice fly that brought in Ryon Healy. The Mariners tied the game at 1-1.

The bottom of the sixth was extremely controversial as the Tigers were able to plate three runs.

After two-out double put pitcher Marco Gonzales in a jam in the sixth, Grayson Greiner once again singled into right field. Mitch Haniger rifled into a throw to home and catcher Mike Zunino laid down a beautiful tag, but home plate umpire Scott Barry ruled the runner safe at home, giving Detroit a 2-1 lead.

The initial rain delay was very costly for the Mariners, as Grayson Greiner was not scheduled to play for Friday’s game. However, he was moved into the lineup for Game One on Saturday and had 2 RBI’s in Detroit’s win.

What was most controversial for the Mariners on the Greiner single was the decision not to challenge the ruling at the plate. Interim manager Manny Acta took over for Scott Servais on Saturday as he attended his daughter’s graduation.

The replay review showed Zunino laying down the tag before the runner’s foot hit the plate. It is unclear whether the call would have been overturned, but the run led to detrimental implications later in the inning.

After Detroit took a 2-1 lead, Jose Iglesias hit a two-run home run to expand the lead to 4-1. Theoretically, the decision not to challenge the two-out single cost Seattle three runs. An overturned call would have ended the inning with a 1-1 ballgame still intact.

Seattle tried to play catch-up in the seventh, by scoring two on separate groundouts, which cut the score to 4-3. A scoreless eighth inning by both teams took Seattle into the top of the 9th, trailing by one.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Dee Gordon grounded out unable to bring in the tying run. The Tigers took game one by a score of 4-3. The loss was excruciating. Especially because an overturned call in the sixth inning that may have drastically changed how the final three innings of the ballgame were played.

Game Two began approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game One. The Mariners were aiming for a split of Saturday’s doubleheader with King Felix on the mound.

Unlike game one, Seattle’s offense capitalized early, when Nelson Cruz singled in Mitch Haniger, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead. However, the Tigers answered back quickly in the second inning, scoring two runs and taking the lead.

Game one began as more of a pitchers duel whereas game two became an offensive showdown. Trailing 2-1, Ryon Healy hit a two-run homer in the top of the 4th to give Seattle the lead, 3-2. Cano provided an insurance in the top of the fifth with a 3-run blast of his own, and the M’s blew the game open, 6-2.

Seattle’s comfortable lead was short lived. John Hicks drove in two runs with a homer in the bottom of the fifth. A single later on the inning put the Tigers down by just one.

Although Detroit trimmed Seattle’s lead, the Mariners did not want any part of a two-game sweep on Saturday. Kyle Seager doubled in two runs and Ryon Healy singled in another to give the M’s a 9-5 lead in the top of the 7th.

The Mariners bullpen looked strong as they cruised to a 9-5 win in game two. James Pazos pitched a brilliant sixth inning, throwing 16 strikes on 17 pitches. Detroit mustered only a hit in the last three innings of the game. Seattle earned a split for the Saturday doubleheader.

Next: Thank You, Ichiro

Coming off of a historic no-hitter, James Paxton will take the mound for Seattle Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 AM PT.