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 Detroit erupted for 11 hits and nine runs in those frames, putting
away the Mariners 12-5 on a night when the Tigers piled up 19 hits
and four solo home runs.
"I'm a firm believer that hitting's absolutely contagious," said
right fielder J.D. Martinez, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and
two RBIs to continue his red-hot offensive pace. "You get a couple
of good at-bats, the pitcher starts to lose his confidence, and
everybody else starts feeding off it."
Detroit (42-40) homered four times off Seattle starter Hisashi
Iwakuma before doing most of its damage against the Mariners'
bullpen in the sixth and seventh. The Tigers piled up nine hits off
relievers Mayckol Guaipe and David Rollins, going 11-for-13 during
one stretch while including the back-to-back hits Iwakuma allowed to
open the sixth. The visitors scored nine times to turn a 5-3 deficit
into a 12-5 lead.
"Today was just one of those days where everyone came out swinging,
and everyone was feeding off each other," J.D. Martinez said. "It's
not something that's going to happen every day."
Detroit starter Alfredo Simon (8-5) had a shaky outing but earned
the win. He allowed eight hits and five runs over 5 2/3 innings.
Designated hitter Victor Martinez and third baseman Nick Castellanos
each went 4-for-5 with a home run. Castellanos drove in four runs.
Left fielder Yoenis Cespedes also homered, and six Detroit players
had multiple hits. The 19 hits were one short of the Tigers' season
high.
"Everyone contributed," Ausmus said.
Seattle (38-45) had not allowed more than 16 hits in a nine-inning
game this season before Monday's outbreak.
Second baseman Robinson Cano had two hits for the Mariners, and
first baseman Logan Morrison hit his 11th homer of the season, a
three-run shot in the fifth that gave Seattle a 5-3 lead.
Iwakuma, making his first appearance since April 20 after coming off
the disabled list earlier in the day, gave up five runs on eight
hits in five-plus innings.
Iwakuma gave up multiple homers for the three time in his four
starts this year. He was sidelined due to a strained lat muscle.
Bench coach Trent Jewett, who was filling in as manager while Lloyd
McClendon attends a funeral out of state, was somewhat encouraged by
Iwakuma's return to the mound.
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"He threw strikes and he was healthy," Jewett said. "Those were key
factors. ... His pitch count (68) was down. He seemed to have
energy. He was into it."
Jewett wasn't nearly as forgiving of the Seattle bullpen. Guaipe
(0-1) faced three batters without getting an out, while Rollins made
his Safeco Field debut and gave up hits to seven of the nine batters
he faced. Both rookies were making their second major league
appearance.
"You don't necessarily have the weapons at your disposal because of
how the last few days lined up," Jewett said of using two rookies at
a key point in the game. "Is it optimal? No. Hopefully it's a
learning experience for those young guys."
NOTES: Three Tigers were named All-Star reserves Monday. LHP David
Price, RF J.D. Martinez and SS Jose Iglesias will join injured 1B
Miguel Cabrera on the American League roster. Cabrera, on the
disabled list with a calf injury, was replaced by Angels 1B Albert
Pujols in the AL starting lineup. ... Martinez was also named AL
Player of the Week. He hit .458 (11-for-24) with four home runs, six
runs and 10 RBIs over the six-game span. ... Seattle's only AL
reserve was RHP Felix Hernandez, who is tied for the league lead
with 10 wins. ... The Tigers claimed 1B Marc Krauss off waivers from
Tampa Bay, although he wasn't immediately added to the 25-man
roster. The Mariners activated RHP Hisashi Iwakuma from the disabled
list to start the game, and they sent OF James Jones back to
Triple-A Tacoma.
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