The Mariners needed Paxton to pitch deep in the game and give their bullpen some rest, and he did, allowing four runs in 72/3 innings, but Detroit beat Seattle 4-2.
DETROIT — The ball traveled maybe 25 to 30 feet at most. But it went just far enough to give the Tigers a lead for good and send the Mariners to yet another frustrating loss on what has been the road trip from hell and a month of regression.
A bases-loaded, swinging-bunt single off the bat of Mike Aviles in the bottom of the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie and eventually sent Detroit to a 4-2 victory over Seattle on Tuesday night at Comerica Park.
It was the Mariners’ fourth straight loss to fall to 36-35 on the season. They are now 2-6 on the road trip and 8-17 in their past 25 games.
“Guys know we are in a tough stretch here,” manager Scott Servais said. “It’s a close-knit group. They pull for each other. That hasn’t changed even though we are going through a tough stretch.”
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“Tough” might be underselling it, but the Mariners are saying the right things.
“We do think we have a really good team here, we believe that,” said Kyle Seager. “That’s why you cannot stress. If there was a little bit of wavering in that, then it would be more of a trying time. We had a much worse stretch to start the year at home. We’ve been in these games. There’s been a lot of battle. There’s been a lot of fight. Once the fight ever leaves, that’s when you get worried.”
Seattle starter James Paxton was solid for seven innings, giving the Mariners quality innings and a chance to pull out a win.
But it all fell apart in the eighth. He gave up a one-out single to Victor Martinez and a double to Nick Castellanos. The Mariners got a bit of a break since Tigers manager Brad Ausmus didn’t pinch run for the slow-footed Martinez immediately, meaning he couldn’t score on the double. Seattle played it right, intentionally walking Justin Upton to load the bases to bring up the light-hitting Aviles, who came into the game batting .219. Paxton got up 1-2 on Aviles in three pitches. The veteran utility infielder fouled off two pitches from Paxton, who was looking for the strikeout. It looked as if he would get that punch-out when he threw a 99 mph fastball just off the outside corner.
Aviles had committed to swinging and lunged for the pitch, trying to foul it off. Instead it went off the end of the bat, stayed on the infield grass, rolling up toward first. Paxton and first baseman Adam Lind both charged the ball, but there was no play to make.
“I would’ve had to be LeBron James to pull that off,” Paxton said.
Paxton couldn’t have made a better pitch.
“That’s baseball right there,” he said. “That’s going to happen sometimes. Hopefully we get some of those breaks going for us here soon.”
James McCann followed with a sacrifice fly to center for an insurance run. With two outs, Edwin Diaz came on and closed the inning.
The Mariners made it interesting in the ninth with back-to-back two-out singles from Dae-Ho Lee and Ketel Marte off Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez. But Nori Aoki grounded out to end the game.
Paxton worked 72/3 innings, giving up four runs on 11 hits against the Tigers’ all right-handed hitting lineup. He fell to 1-3 on the season. But Servais had no complaints.
“He really had the best outing he’s had with the command of his pitches,” Servais said. “He was very impressive, and we tried to ride him as long as we could.”
Seattle’s woes with runners in scoring position continued early against Detroit starter Justin Verlander and later the Tigers’ bullpen. Seattle went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven.
There wasn’t a runner in scoring position in the sixth inning when the Mariners finally scored. With two outs and Robinson Cano on first having singled off Verlander, Seager sat on a 3-2 fastball, blasting a towering shot into the right-field stands for his 15th homer of the season and a 2-0 Mariners lead.
“He pitched us tough all night,” Seager said. “I was able to get ahead 3-0, and the opportunities off him are few and far between.”
Paxton gave up his first run after getting the 2-0 lead, but an unreal defensive play by Seager limited more possible damage. Cameron Maybin and Miguel Cabrera started off the bottom of the sixth with singles to put Paxton in trouble. Martinez yanked a hard ground ball down the third-base line, but Seager was able to make a diving stop and scramble to his feet to fire to Cano at second for an out. Cano then showed his above-average arm strength, rifling the ball to first to get the not-fast Martinez.
“Just an awesome, awesome play,” Servais said.