Seattle leads ALDS 2-1 after 8-4 victory in Detroit. The Seattle Mariners are on the brink of reaching the American League Championship Series for the first time in 24 years.
Cal Raleigh, Eugenio Suárez, and J.P. Crawford each homered, Logan Gilbert delivered a commanding start, and Seattle powered past the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Tuesday night at Comerica Park to take a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series.
With the victory, the Mariners are now one win away from advancing to their first ALCS since 2001. They’ll have their first opportunity to clinch on Wednesday afternoon in Game 4, also in Detroit. If necessary, a decisive Game 5 would be played Friday night back in Seattle.
“This group’s been through a lot together,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “They believe in each other, and you can see that confidence building with every game.”
Seattle’s bats did the heavy lifting early. After Detroit starter Jack Flaherty labored through a 33-pitch third inning, the Mariners broke through with two runs.
Victor Robles led off with a double and scored when left fielder Riley Greene’s errant throw home got away from catcher Dillon Dingler. Randy Arozarena followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
An inning later, Eugenio Suárez launched a 422-foot solo home run to left, and Cal Raleigh added a two-out RBI single for a 4-0 cushion.
The Tigers scratched across their first run in the fifth when Kerry Carpenter’s fielder’s choice plated Dingler, but J.P. Crawford answered immediately with a solo homer in the sixth to restore Seattle’s four-run lead at 5-1.
The Mariners capitalized on another Detroit miscue in the eighth when Carpenter dropped Robles’ fly ball in right, allowing Luke Raley to move to third and score on Crawford’s sacrifice fly.
Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 home runs during the regular season, delivered the exclamation point with a 391-foot, two-run blast to left-center in the ninth, pushing the lead to 8-1.
Gilbert Dominant, Detroit’s Late Rally Falls Short
Seattle starter Logan Gilbert was in control from the start. The right-hander went six innings, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out seven, and walking none.
“He was outstanding,” Servais said. “Pounded the strike zone, set the tone early, and gave our offense the breathing room to go to work.”
The Tigers’ offense, which has been inconsistent all postseason, was limited to four hits through eight innings before finally showing some life in the ninth. Reliever Caleb Ferguson couldn’t record an out, giving up three runs on three hits and a walk.
Spencer Torkelson ripped a two-run double, and Andy Ibáñez added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 8-4. But All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz entered and promptly ended the comeback bid, inducing a flyout and then a game-ending double play.
Flaherty lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks. The Tigers’ defense also betrayed them, committing two costly errors that led to unearned runs.
“We’ve got to be better all around,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “This team has fought through adversity before, and we’re not done yet.”
Detroit has now lost eight straight games at Comerica Park, dating back to late September, and must win on Wednesday to force a trip back to Seattle.
The Tigers will send RHP Casey Mize to the mound in Game 4, while the Mariners counter with RHP Bryce Miller as they look to punch their ticket to the ALCS.
First pitch is set for Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park — and Seattle stands just nine innings away from its first trip to the league championship round since 2001.
