SPORTS

Live blog: Tigers crush Mariners, 19-9

Geoff Robinson
The Detroit News
Tigers' Ian Kinsler congratulates James McCann on his two-run home run in the second inning.

FINAL: TIGERS 19, MARINERS 9

The Tigers bats were on fire Tuesday night at Comerica Park as they crushed the Mariners in the first of a three-game series, 19-9.

The Tigers tagged Seattle for eight hits and nine runs in the fifth inning. Every starter recorded a hit, and seven produced a multi-hit game. Justin Upton, Alex Avila and James McCann all went deep as the Tigers racked up 24 hits.

At the end of the night, the Tigers and Mariners combined for 40 hits, setting a new Comerica Park record. The previous record was 38 by the Tigers and White Sox on April 13, 2006.

Jordan Zimmermann wasn't at his best, giving up five runs over six innings, but he didn't need to be. Seattle was able to get to the Tigers starter for 11 hits, but Zimmermann did a nice job of minimizing the damage early on. He did struggle over his last two innings, giving up three solo home runs in the fifth and sixth.

The bullpen was shaky despite pitching with a big lead. Shane Greene and Kyle Ryan combined to issue four walks and give up two runs. Greene had to be taken out during the seventh when he loaded the bases. Brad Ausmus turned to Alex Wilson to get his team out of the jam, which he did with no issue.

Joe Jimenez came on in the ninth inning and got the first two outs on fly balls. He issued a pair of two-out walks to Guillermo Heredia and Mike Zunino before Brad Ausmus took him out of the game in favor of Blaine Hardy, who gave up a single to right field to Jarrod Dyson. With the bases loaded, Jean Segura notched a two-run single to make it a 10-run game at 19-9. Hardy then issued a walk to Danny Valencia to again load the bases. Finally, the game ended when Robinson Cano grounded out to second.

Bottom 8th: Tigers 19, Mariners 7

Pinch-hitting John Hicks led the inning off with a single to right field off of new Seattle reliever Evan Scribner, and pinch-hitting Mikie Mahtook went a step further with a two-run shot to left field that puts the Tigers up 18-7.

The party didn't stop there, as Alex Avila added a single and Jim Adduci doubled down the line in right field. Avila scored on a James McCann ground out.

I think, for now, that the Tigers most definitely won't have to go to their set up man or closer tonight (he said without too much confidence).

Top 8th: Tigers 16, Mariners 7

Kyle Ryan issued back-to-back walks to start the eighth inning before getting Jean Segura to fly out to left field. Alex Avila couldn't make the play down the line in right field on a ball off the bat of Danny Valencia, allowing the Mariners to load the bases. Robinson Cano managed to get a run across the plate with a sacrifice fly to right center, and Ryan got out of the inning by getting Nelson Cruz to fly out to right field.

Shane Greene and Ryan combined to issue four walks to the Mariners over the last two innings.

Bottom 7th: Tigers 16, Mariners 6

Pinch-hitting Dixon Machado drew a one-out walk against new Seattle reliever James Pazos. But Tyler Collins grounded into a fielder's choice, and Nick Castellanos struck out swinging to end the inning.

Andrew Romine grounded out to second to leadoff the frame.

Top 7th: Tigers 16, Mariners 6

Shane Greene got the call from the bullpen for the Tigers in the seventh. He issued a one-out walk to Danny Valencia before Robinson Cano singled to center field to put runners on the corners. Nelson Cruz was able to plate Valencia with a single that skipped over the head of Nick Castellanos at third base. Greene issued a two-out walk to Daniel Vogelbach, and Brad Ausmus had seen enough, pulling the struggling reliever with the bases loaded.

Alex Wilson came into the game and got Guillermo Heredia to fly out to right field to end the threat.

Bottom 6th: Tigers 16, Mariners 5

Justin Upton drew a one-out walk, and Alex Avila singled, but the Tigers weren't able to add to their run total, as Jim Adduci flew out to left field and James McCann flew out to right field.

Victor Martinez grounded out to first to leadoff the inning.

Mariners sacrificial lamb Evan Marshall is still pitching. He's thrown 53 pitches in less than two innings of work.

Top 6th: Tigers 16, Mariners 5

Nelson Cruz got things started with a big time solo home run to center field that cut the Tigers lead to 16-5.

Guillermo Heredia notched a two-out single, and Jordan Zimmermann hit Mike Zudino to give Seattle two men on base. The Mariners wouldn't do anymore damage, though, as Jarrod Dyson popped out to end the frame.

At the time of the Cruz dinger, Seattle had homered three times in four at-bats. The Tigers bats are doing a nice job of covering up Zimmermann's struggles tonight.

Bottom 5th: Tigers 16, Mariners 4

The Tigers started the fifth inning with five consecutive hits and tagged Mariners pitcher for eight more hits and nine more runs when it was all said and done.

Andrew Romine got things started with a single to right field. Ian Kinsler followed suit, and that was enough to chase a second Seattle pitcher to the bench, as Chris Heston gave way to Evan Marshall.

Tyler Collins was able to get a run back for the home team, doubling to the wall in left field to push the Tigers lead to 8-4. Nick Castellanos joined in on the hit parade to start the fifth inning with a two-RBI single up the middle of the diamond to make it 10-4. After Victor Martinez doubled, Justin Upton grounded out for the first out of the inning. Seattle elected to intentionally walk Alex Avila and load the bases for Jim Adduci, who struck out swinging at a ball in the dirt.

The Tigers wouldn't stop there.

James McCann drew a bases loaded walk, Andrew Romine notched an RBI on an infield single, Ian Kinsler plated two with an RBI single, and Tyler Collins brought home two more with a single of his own to make it 16-4.

Things finally came to an end when Castellanos lined out to the shortstop.

Top 5th: Tigers 7, Mariners 4

Jean Segura and Danny Valencia caught the home run bug as they both went deep to left field off of Jordan Zimmermann with two outs, cutting the Tigers lead to 7-4.

It looked like it would be an easy inning for Zimmermann, who struck out Mike Zunino, and got Jarrod Dyson to ground out to first base for the first two outs of the inning.

Bottom 4th: Tigers 7, Mariners 2

Just when it looked like the Tigers weren't going to do anything with a leadoff walk, Justin Upton made some noise with his fourth home run of the season, this one a mammoth shot to deep left field that puts the Tigers up 6-2.

Not to be outdone, Alex Avila tagged Chris Heston for his fourth home run of the year to one of the deepest parts of Comerica Park in left center field, putting the Tigers up 7-2.

Jim Adduci got in on the action with a triple to right center field, but James McCann couldn't bring another run home, grounding out to third to end the inning.

Ian Kinsler worked a leadoff walk from Heston, but Nick Castellanos flew out to right field, and Victor Martinez struck out before the Upton blast.

Top 4th: Tigers 4, Mariners 2

Longtime Tiger killer Nelson Cruz got things started with a single to right field, and after Taylor Motter flew out to left field, Daniel Vogelbach singled to right field to put men on first and second with one out for Seattle.

But Jordan Zimmermann didn't panic, picking up his third double play of the night in getting out of the jam in the fourth inning.

The Mariners have seven hits, but they've yet to notch anything more than a single.

Zimmermann has thrown 49 pitches.

Bottom 3rd: Tigers 4, Mariners 2

In an astonishing turn of events, Seattle ace Felix Hernandez is done after two innings, giving up two runs to the Tigers on 48 pitches.

After Alex Avila grounded out to shortstop, and Jim Adduci grounded out to second, James McCann was able to notch a two-out single off of Chris Heston. Andrew Romine then singled to left field to put the Tigers in business in the third inning, but Ian Kinsler flew out to center field to end the inning.

Top 3rd: Tigers 4, Mariners 2

Mitch Haniger notched his second hit of the night with a one-out single to left field, but he came up gingerly at first base and had to come out of the game as Danny Valencia came on as the pinch-runner. No matter the runner, Jordan Zimmermann was able to get his second double play ball of the night to get out of the third frame.

Jean Segura grounded out to second to leadoff the inning.

Bottom 2nd: Tigers 4, Mariners 2

James McCann fell behind Felix Hernandez 0-2 and looked left for dead. But to his credit, McCann hung around against Seattle's ace, taking a close one inside and fighting off a couple of pitches before drilling a two-run home run to right field that put the Tigers up 3-2.

Jim Adduci continued his hot start since joining the Tigers, leading off the inning with an infield single to set up McCann.

After Andrew Romine flew out to center field, Ian Kinsler reached on an infield single of his own, moving to third when Tyler Collins singled to right field, putting runners on the corners with just one out. Kinsler scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-2.

Nick Castellanos drew a walk to again give the Tigers two men on base, but Victor Martinez popped out and Justin Upton struck out to end the inning.

Will the real King Felix please stand up? Hernandez looks nothing like the dominant pitcher he has always been. He's thrown 48 pitches in the first two frames.

Top 2nd: Mariners 2, Tigers 1

Guillermo Heredia led off with a single to left field, but Jordan Zimmermann was able to bounce back and get Mike Zunino to ground into a double play. Jarrod Dyson popped up to end the inning.

Zimmermann has thrown 26 pitches through the first two frames.

Bottom 1st: Mariners 2, Tigers 1

Ian Kinsler slapped a leadoff double to left field, and he would have scored during the next at-bat if not for a beautiful diving catch by Guillermo Heredia that robbed Tyler Collins of a base hit. After Nick Castellanos was walked, Victor Martinez narrowly missed a three-run home run to left field. Kinsler moved up to third on the fly out to put runners on the corners for Justin Upton, who delivered with a double to left field that got the Tigers on the board early against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez.

Alex Avila couldn't deliver anymore runs with men on second and third, striking out looking to end the inning.

Top 1st: Mariners 2, Tigers 0

Jean Segura knocked the first pitch into left field for a leadoff single. Mitch Haniger followed with a bunt single to put Seattle in business in the early going. Robinson Cano flew out to deep left field, allowing both runners to move into scoring position with one out. Nelson Cruz brought Segura home on a fly ball to right field, and Taylor Motter singled to left field to to give Seattle an early 2-0 lead.

Motter stole second base during the next at-bat, but Jordan Zimmermann was finally able to get out of the inning by getting Daniel Vogelbach to fly out to center field.

With Felix Hernandez on the mound for the Mariners, the Tigers can't afford to let Seattle put too many more runs on the board.

Mariners at Tigers

What: 7:10, Comerica Park, Detroit

TV/radio: FSD/97.1

Pitchers: Tigers, RHP Jordan Zimmermann (1-1, 5.94); Mariners, RHP Felix Hernandez (2-1, 3.65)

LINEUPS

Mariners

1. Jean Segura, SS

2. Mitch Haniger, RF

3. Robinson Cano, 2B

4. Nelson Cruz, DH

5. Taylor Motter, 3B

6. Daniel Vogelbach, 1B

7. Guillermo Heredia, LF

8. Mike Zunino, C

9. Jarrod Dyson, CF

Felix Hernandez, SP

Tigers

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Tyler Collins, CF

3. Nick Castellanos, 3B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. Justin Upton, LF

6. Alex Avila, 1B

7. Jim Adduci, RF

8. James McCann, C

9. Andrew Romine, SS

Jordan Zimmermann, SP

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