SEATTLE (AP) — Jose Iglesias’ two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning gave Detroit the lead, and Tigers’ pitchers allowed just two hits over the final six innings in a 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
Detroit rallied against Seattle’s bullpen and specifically eighth-inning regular Nick Vincent (1-1) to take the opener of the four-game series. With two outs in the eighth, Vincent allowed a single to Mikie Mahtook and walked James McCann to load the bases. Seattle stayed with Vincent and Iglesias got enough of a 1-0 cutter to send it up the middle and off the glove of shortstop Jean Segura diving to try and stop the grounder.
The rally by Detroit came an inning after Seattle failed to add to its lead after having runners at second and third with one out. Dee Gordon struck out and Segura grounded out, ending Seattle’s only scoring opportunity after the third inning.
Detroit starter Matthew Boyd struck out a career-high nine and didn’t factor in the decision but was part of a solid night by the Tigers’ staff. After Mitch Haniger’s RBI single in the third inning, the Mariners’ only hits were a pair of singles by Guillermo Heredia — one in the fourth and another leading off the seventh inning.
Boyd combined with Buck Farmer, Blaine Hardy, Warwick Saupold (2-1), Joe Jimenez and Shane Greene to retire 20 of the final 23 batters faced. Jimenez struck out the side in the eighth inning and Greene pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
