Detroit beat Seattle 7-3 on Friday night in a rematch of last season’s American League Division Series, with Gleyber Torres leading the offense with three hits. Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson each hit home runs as the Tigers extended their strong start to June and continued their recent surge at the plate.
Detroit has opened June with four straight wins after going 9-22 in May, and the Tigers are averaging eight runs per game during the streak. The victory also came against the Mariners, who eliminated Detroit in the AL Division Series last season, adding extra significance to the matchup.
Seattle struck first with a run in the opening inning, using three singles to take a 1-0 lead. Detroit answered in the third inning with a three-run rally. Torres singled with one out and advanced to third on a hit by Kevin McGonigle. Dillon Dingler then hit a shallow fly to center, and Julio Rodriguez was unable to make a clean play on the hop. Torres scored on the play, and McGonigle was thrown out trying to advance. Carpenter followed with a two-run homer to right field, giving Detroit control of the game.
The Mariners briefly closed the gap in the seventh when Colt Emerson homered off reliever Drew Anderson to make it 3-2. Detroit responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Torres delivered a two-run double to stretch the lead to 5-2 and provide key insurance. Seattle cut the deficit to 5-3 in the eighth on a bloop RBI single from Mitch Garver, but the Tigers quickly put the game out of reach when Torkelson launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.
On the mound, Framber Valdez earned the win for Detroit after allowing one run on five hits and two walks over five innings. Bryan Woo took the loss for Seattle, giving up five runs in 6 1/3 innings. Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford left the game after being hit on the hand by a pitch from Valdez in the third inning.
Seattle entered the game riding an eight-game winning streak but has now lost two straight. The teams will continue their three-game series on Saturday, with Detroit scheduled to start right-hander Keider Montero against Seattle right-hander Bryce Miller.
