Tigers beat the Mariners in a series finale on Mother’s Day

Photo from Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

By Shawn Stewart

The Tigers (18-21) avoided a sweep at against the Mariners (20-20) on Mothers Day.

The Tigers trailed through the middle innings until Andy Ibanez and Akil Badddoo hit back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3.

In the seventh inning, the Tigers loaded the bases on a single and two walks. With two outs, struggling infielder Nick Maton came to the plate to face Mariners deliver Matt Brash.

Brash plunked Maton in the lower right leg with a breaking pitch to give the Tigers the lead, then walked Ibanez on four pitches to add an insurance run.

Mariners Starting pitcher Logan Gilbert had three wild pitches, which helped the Tigers score in the first and third innings.

Tigers starter Joey Wentz suffered his own self-induced issues. He didn’t make it out of the third inning thanks in part to a balk that scored one of three Mariners’ runs.

Five Detroit relievers combined to pitch 6 1/3 scoreless innings to finish the game. Alex Lange walked two in the ninth, but ended the game with back-to-back strikeouts to earn his seventh save.

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