DETROIT (AP) — The Seattle Mariners are on the brink of securing a spot in the American League Championship Series for the first time in 24 years.
Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford added solo shots, and Seattle beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series.
The Mariners are now within one win of their first AL Championship Series appearance since 2001. Their first chance to advance comes Wednesday afternoon in Game 4 at Comerica Park. If necessary, another opportunity awaits on Friday back in Seattle for a decisive Game 5.
“The Seattle Mariners deserve where we’re at right now,” Suarez said.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch, however, cautioned against counting his team out. After a historic collapse in the regular season, the Tigers showed resilience by eliminating Cleveland in the AL Wild Card series, then won Game 1 against Seattle.
“We’ve had to play more and more back-against-the-wall-type games,” Hinch said. “I know our guys are going to be ready.”
Seattle’s Logan Gilbert delivered a strong outing, pitching six innings and giving up just one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking none.
“Can’t say enough about what Logan did,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “Just an incredible outing. He had everything going.”
Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 home runs during the regular season, crushed a 391-foot two-run homer to left-center field in the ninth inning to extend the lead to 8-1.
The offensively challenged Tigers were limited to four hits and one run through eight innings before generating some late offense in the ninth against Caleb Ferguson, who struggled in relief. Ferguson allowed three runs on three hits and a walk without recording an out.
Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double, and Andy Ibanez followed with an RBI single. All-Star closer Andres Munoz then entered the game with one on and no outs, ultimately ending Detroit’s comeback hopes with a flyout and a game-ending double play.
Detroit’s starter Jack Flaherty lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks.
Seattle built its lead early, scoring two runs in the third inning after a strong start to the frame with three hits and a walk. Victor Robles led off with a double and scored on an error by Tigers’ left fielder Riley Greene, who made an errant throw that could have been fielded on a bounce by catcher Dillon Dingler.
“A little bit of a breakdown all the way around,” Hinch said of the defensive miscue.
Randy Arozarena’s RBI single put the Mariners ahead 2-0 in the third. Suarez followed with a 422-foot homer to left in the fourth, extending the lead to 3-0. Raleigh’s two-out RBI single in the same inning gave Seattle a four-run cushion.
The Tigers hoped their first home game in more than two weeks would settle their bats but instead fell to an eighth straight loss at Comerica Park.
Detroit finally scored in the fifth inning on Kerry Carpenter’s fielder’s choice with a potential inning-ending double play on the line. J.P. Crawford’s strong throw from second base pulled first baseman Josh Naylor off the bag, and he failed to secure the ball, allowing Dingler to score.
Crawford’s solo homer in the sixth restored Seattle’s four-run lead.
The Tigers allowed Seattle to score a second unearned run in the eighth after Carpenter dropped Victor Robles’ fly ball in right field. This error allowed Luke Raley to advance to third and eventually score on Crawford’s sacrifice fly.
Looking ahead, Detroit right-hander Casey Mize and Seattle right-hander Bryce Miller are expected to start Game 4 on Wednesday.
___
Follow Larry Lage on X
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
https://wgntv.com/sports/ap-sports/ap-raleigh-suarez-crawford-homer-and-mariners-top-tigers-8-4-for-a-2-1-lead-in-the-al-division-series/